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Rating:
A little bit sorry that Alex Chilton's name needs some words of introduction for many people. This man called destruction has been a fundamental figure in American rock music for the past forty years as a singer, composer, producer, and major inspiration for various bands (the Replacements even honored him by naming a song after him on the album Pleased to meet me).
From the huge chart success as a teenager in 1967 with the Box Tops to the sophisticated Big Star, then great as a talent scout and collaborator of psychobilly revival bands like Cramps and Tav Falco. A solo career instead with mixed results also linked to too much love for the bottle and therefore not up to the character. But this album from 1995 brings him back to good levels, with great self-penned songs and amazing covers!
Chilton comes from Memphis and you can tell! The opening is the great rhythm and blues "Sick and Tired" by Kris Kenner with a superb horn section arranged by Jim Spake, then the feline "Devil Girl" which I imagine what it could be in the hands of the Cramps! The other classic R&B "Lies" makes you jump out of your chair with the irresistible refrain of the three backup singers "...lies! lies! lies! always tell me lies!"
There is room for three great covers: "What's Your Sign Girl" penned by Barry White’s protégé, Danny Pearson, who sang in a remarkable falsetto that Chilton tries to imitate, bringing back those great easy vibes of the Box Tops; the classic and intense Jimmy Reed blues "You Don't Have To Go" marked by a splendid harmonica and finally "New Girl in School" by the Beach Boys with its characteristic choruses. The other songs authored by Chilton range from the golden years rock and roll of "Boplexity" and "You're looking down" to the garage of "Don't go" and to the soul of the heartfelt interpretation of "Don't you anymore", with great horn accompaniment to our hero's guitar.
The only tracks that don't convince me are the version of "Il Ribelle" by Celentano (yes, the very national Adriano) and the funeral march "It's your funeral", to the sound of which it is allowed, indeed advisable, to perform the customary knock on wood.
What rating to give him? I have too much respect and admiration for this man to give him an anonymous three that doesn't know if it's fish or fowl, the album flows beautifully and makes me feel good (except for the funeral march!). Therefore, three and a half!
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