Plastic Fang

Somewhere in the making of this album, JSBE's previously scrappy half-fragments of songs have been rounded off and finished. Rather than the reliance on random shouts of 'blues explosion!' to link together unrelated tracks, each track here has been crafted along the more conventional songwriting structures - but fans of the group will know that with the Blues Explosion, verse-chorus-verse will never sound anything like conventional.

The old influences and styles are written through this album like a stick of rock - the early rhythm and blues and rock fusion of riff-driven bands such as Booker T, Cream, Stones and Zeppelin, the power of the Who, the inventiveness and surreal lyrical preoccupations of Captain Beefheart (whose vocal delivery is becoming increasingly imitated by Jon Spencer). However, there is something unique happening beneath the influence-ridden surface that should be investigated further.

Praise is due for the production too - thunderous drumming, clear, crisp bass and the right level of lead guitar and vocals. If it weren't for the werewolf preoccupations, I'd say the group have grown up. As it is, they've merely given us one of 2002's brightest rock and roll moments so far.

Certainly fans of "Orange" and "Acme" will be pretty perplexed when they hear it. I agree with most reviews in that it's easily JSBX most accessible work - but let's not get too cosy here alright, we're not talking gushing MOR ballards and glossy, silky smooth production! You want your edge? Well it's still here and it kicks all the other bland pap rock 'n roll guff around into touch! How can I sum it up best? Well, it's more "Two Kinds Of Love" (from "Now I Got Worry") than "Bellbottoms" (from "Orange"). In other words, there is some semblance of a, y'know, tuuuuuune there somewhere! There could even be some singles in there!

So I'd say your reaction to this record will depend upon where you stand on that issue - if you like your JS pretty much all over the shop, with no real tunes to be found (see "Acme"), just a ramshackle bunch of riffs glued together with "BBBBLLLLLUUUUEEESSS EEXXXPPLLLLOSSIOON" barked every thirty seconds then I'm pretty sure you'll turn your nose up here. If you want the same chaotic shambles, but reigned in juuuuuuust a little bit - then I'd buy it RIGHT NOW if I were you.

Personally, I love this record - "Sweet 'n Sour" is a great opener, all over the shop and dirty as you want...in fact, you could apply that to just about any song here! "Midnight Creep", "Tore Up And Broke" and "Mean Heart", they're all ace! Ain't it cool!