The Bottom Line Blues Explosion (renamed from Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion) takes a risk with including hip hop, rap, and saxophones. The risk paid off. Damage rocks.
Full Review
Renamed simply Blues Explosion, the alt-rock band formerly known as John Spencer’s Blues Explosion that gained popularity in the 1990’s is back—this time with album Damage from new label Sanctuary. Bordering on camp, the brash band is best described as 1970’s rock n’ roll meets modernist punk sensibility. But whatever you call it, Damage is a darned good album.
Rising from out the ashes of Pussy Galore, Blues Explosion was the vision of guitarist, vocalist, writer and producer Jon Spencer. Though it was only when he joined forces with drummer Russell Simins and guitarist Judah Bauer that the band was born. To date, the band has released ten (or so) studio albums with the most successful being 1996’s Now I Got Worry, 1998’s Acme and 2002’s Plastic Fang. Though, it was a song (specifically Afro) from 1993’s Extra Width that first earned the trio any real widespread exposure.
Over the years, the band’s vision and production have both become better defined. Maybe it is maturity or maybe it is better attention to detail, but whatever the case may be each of the Blues Explosion’s albums is increasingly focused and entertaining. Two things fortunately not lost in this inevitable maturation are the band’s refusal to heed to trends and Spencer’s deep, sexy vocals. Lacking a better description, this is modern rock—the kind of music listeners either really love or really hate. My views fall solidly into the first, more positive, area.
Damage features work from not just the band, but also various other producers, writers, and musical talents. Most surprising are the fantastic hip hop elements unexpectedly scattered throughout. Damage, Hot Gossip, and Fed Up and Low Down are the best examples with Hot Gossip featuring skills from Chuck D. This slight shift is amazing—beats melded with guitars and melody mixed with rapping. Innovation like this is what sets this album apart from the rest of the musical world—in a word “brilliant.”
Sit down, take your shoes off, grab a beer, and chill out to Damage. There is much here to like from the aforementioned hip hop elements to the enormously memorable and chipper Crunchy (produced and co-written by Dan “The Automator” Nakamura of Gorillaz and Deltron 3030 fame). I can definitely see this song making appearances on college radio and possibly even mainstream radio. It is my favorite offering of the entire album, and as a result it stays with me long after I’m done listening to Damage:
Is this the way it’s supposed to be
have you had enough of this misery?
As much as I adore Crunchy, it’s hard to not notice the consistency across Damage. This is what making an album is about—a few outstanding songs, but overall just a generally good vibe. The Blues Explosion’s music makes me feel great and how often can that honestly be said about music? Not very often. The band well known for their live prowess has now officially given fans and the world alike the most immediately gratifying album of their almost fifteen-year career.
As if what I have already mentioned isn’t enough, the band continually impresses me as Damage draws to a close. Albums all too often lose direction and energy toward the end, but this one does not. I suppose that too is an indicator of the quality of this CD. Mars, Arizona is a rowdy, swaggering rock track definitely worth checking out while Rivals is unquestionably reminiscent of The Doors. However, the real treasures are Fed Up and Low Down (with an unlikely amalgamation of soul, rap, and hard rock) and rich, rootsy album ender Blowing My Mind.
Damage must be listened to in order to be believed. It is outstanding and will appeal to fans of the Blues Explosion and new listeners alike. This might just be what the band needed to make a real breakthrough—then again in all likelihood they probably don’t really care. If you’re looking for something a bit dirtier and different than the usual alt-rock then may I suggest Blues Explosion? You won’t be disappointed.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Damage
02. Burn It Off
03. Spoiled
04. Crunchy
05. Hot Gossip
06. Mars, Arizona
07. You Been My Baby
08. Rivals
09. Help These Blues
10. Fed Up and Low Down
11. Rattling
12. Blowing My Mind
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