I listened to the new Rod Stewart album three times over the weekend, fully intending to write something positive about it. An LP of newly-written original songs from a 76-year-old rocker? Just the fact that it exists is impressive. Unfortunately, there’s not a song on it I ever want to hear a fourth time, so I’m moving on to a couple I can actually recommend.
• Susanna Hoffs, Bright Lights – This one almost got past me entirely. It was of such insignificance to the current music scene that only one of the three weekly new release lists I check even mentioned it. That’s a damn shame, it’s going to be pretty tough for this one to not sink without a commercial ripple. It very much deserves to be heard.
You may not remember Ms. Hoffs by name, but I’m sure you’d recognize her face and voice. She was the lovely young woman front and center playing the black Rickenbacker in The Bangles' hit videos back in the day. She made the world walk like an Egyptian with a simple roll of her eyes and made a song about getting up and going to work on a manic Monday sound impossibly sexy. “Hazy Shade of Winter,” “If She Knew What She Wants,” The Bangles were impressive pop/rock group and hugely popular for a while there. What’s Susanna been doing since they broke up?
Turns out, they didn’t. According to their website, The Bangles are still a going concern, at least as of 2018 when they contributed a few new songs to a compilation album. They last performed as a live act in 2014. Susanna’s been filling the inactive times with solo records since 1991, without scratching the surface of the band’s popularity and sales. She was a principal songwriter for The Bangles, responsible for outstanding tracks like “Hero Takes a Fall” and “Eternal Flame,” but most of her solo career has been as an interpreter of other artist’s songs, either alone or with co-conspirator Matthew Sweet. Bright Lights is all cover versions, chosen wisely, and even a bit bravely considering the iconic status of most of them.
The album title refers to her cover of Richard and Linda Thompson’s “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight.” As if it’s not gutsy enough to invite comparisons to Linda’s breathtaking singing on the original, Susanna also tackles songs by Lou Reed, Nick Drake, Badfinger, Prince, and the immortal Paul Revere & the Raiders, among others. And The Monkees, let’s not forget The Monkees. “You Just May Be the One” was my absolute favorite song from the days when their show was must-see Saturday TV. The rare Mike Nesmith vocal, a little darker and weirder than the rest of the catalog. Susanna’s version here, like everything else on the record, is outstanding. The backing arrangements throughout are tasteful and intriguing and her vocals are, if anything, richer and more supple than you remember. I’ve listened to Bright Lights at least a half dozen times now, and it just keeps getting better. Highly recommended.
EARWORM: Susanna Hoffs, “Name of the Game” (2021) – A gorgeous duet with Aimee Mann on the Badfinger classic.
• Gov’t Mule, Heavy Load Blues – Warren Haynes, founder, guitarist, songwriter, and lead singer of Gov’t Mule really gets around. I’ve never seen a Gov’t Mule concert, but I’ve seen Warren as a solo act, as co-lead guitarist for the Allman Brothers (with Derek Trucks), and in the Jerry spot in a latter-day incarnation of the Dead. He was spectacular every time. Gov’t Mule has been his no-frills, heavy blues jam band since 1995, something to do when he wasn’t doing everything else.
Heavy Load Blues is more of what he’s been putting out since the band started, more Allmans than Dead, and it’s a pretty easy review. If you like extremely well-played and sung heavy blues/rock, with a mix of originals and covers of classics from the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and Elmore James, it doesn’t get any better than this in the 21st century. I have no idea where albums like this exist on the music landscape anymore, but the Mule has a fervent following that keeps the ticket sales flowing when they hit the road. If this is a genre you like, think you might like, or remember liking back in the previous century when it was more prominent, I’d urge you to give the album a spin. It’s a keeper in my house.
EARWORM: Gov’t Mule, “Blues Before Sunrise” (2021) – The album opener, with plenty of Warren’s tasty slide playing.
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