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Rating:
As mentioned, the Eighties were difficult years for an artist of Rory Gallagher's caliber, as he was grappling with increasingly complex health conditions, due to his openly admitted dependence on alcoholism. Nevertheless, from a purely artistic point of view, our artist, who always viewed the famous "success at any cost" as smoke in the eyes, goes on his way and, defying the often gaudy musical fashions of the time (in my view, at least) and the explosion of genres like Heavy Metal and its derivatives Glam Metal and so on, five years after the release of the excellent "Jinx", along with the always close-knit duo McAvoy-O'Neill, brings to light in 1987 (the year of my birth, as if by chance!) this yet another Rock/Blues gem named Defender.
As in the case of Jinx, the choice of a random title is simply not: with this, Rory's intention was to once again reiterate his stubborn resistance to any kind of musical choice that led to so-called "easy money" (thus "making a matching pair" with his Against The Grain of 1975), thus setting himself as a defender of his Rock/Blues roots from which, in fact, this latest album of excellent quality literally sprouts.
The survey begins with "Kickback City", the usual Rock/Blues piece à la Rory in which our artist distinguishes himself with the usual, impeccable work on the Stratocaster, and the same mood is followed by the equally valid "Continental Op" dedicated to the homonymous work of the narrator Dashiell Hammett (of whom Rory was a fan) which also presents an equally solid sound without any slippage.
With "Loanshark Blues" and, above all, with the magnificent "I Ain't No Saint" the dusty Blues paths beaten by that "sacred monster" of Chicago Blues which is John Lee Hooker are re-traveled with results in this case decidedly excellent as well.
"Failsafe Day" is another great muscular Rock/Blues piece supported by a series of excellent riffs and by the rocky yet perfect rhythm section of the McAvoy-O'Neill duo that is brilliantly proposed again in the subsequent "Road To Hell" which already by its title might appear as a citation of the famous "Highway To Hell" by the glorious AC/DC of the Bon Scott Era, but in reality is a powerful track that winks at Southern Rock by ZZTop and friends in some passages.
With "Doing Time", another excellent track, the quality continues to remain very high, and the same goes for "Smear Campaign" which once again reveals his passion for espionage-themed "B-Movies".
The cover of the great Sonny Boy Williamson's "Don't Start Me Talkin'" features Mark Feltham, from the band Nine Below Zero and a friend of McAvoy and O'Neill, here authoring a beautiful harmonica solo, and who will later become a regular collaborator on the subsequent album "Fresh Evidence" three years later.
With the superb acoustic Country/Blues of "Seven Days", Lou Martin's electric piano returns "by popular demand", flawlessly accompanying Rory's acoustic style, excellently closing a Rock/Blues album with Hard Rock tinges of incredibly solid demeanor that leaves absolutely no chance from the very first listen.
Worth noting from the 2018 CD reissue is the addition of two more Rock/Blues tracks like "Seems To Me" and "No Peace For The Wicked", confirming, if it was still necessary, the great consistency of this record work.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Kickback City (04:51)
They say this town will kill you
They say this town ain't got no soul
This town could take a childs smile
And turn it into stone
But don't you think I know that
This town has cut me to the bone
Trouble crawling up your back
Fear just eats your soul
You say this town will eat you up
You say this town ain't got no heart
You try to learn all your lines
And you try to play the part
With all this double dealing
I tell you brother you get smart
Here in kickback city
You're lost before you start
People in subways look nearly half dazed to me
Renting tomorrow investing in sorrow no belief
Faces in sidestreets hiding like angels for grace
Selling you sorrow renting tomorrow you're out of place
They say this town will kill you
They say this town ain't got no soul
They'll set you up and pull the stitch
Till you unravelled on the floor
But I won't let it beat me
Though trouble's knocking in my door
Somehow it's just your smile
That keeps me coming back for more
Here in kickback city
Feel I'm going down slow
Here in kickback city
Feel I'm going down slow
03 Continental Op (04:34)
There's a body in the bay
The cops are taking it away
They said this case was closed
It only shows that you never know
So who are they going to get when the trouble's got to stop
Here's my card I'm the continental op
Jane Doe in the bay, now that's exhibit "A"
Bloodstains on the dress, of the millionaires
But I saw you leaving town, I'm gonna have to track you down
You've slipped through the web and you might have dodged the feds
But who are they going to get when you've outfoxed the cops
Here's my number I'm the continental op
I'm the continental op
Call the agency, we never close
First consultation is free
Check my reputation, check my pose
But first you ought to check my fee
There's a menace on the streets, offering infants' sweets
Don't give this man a ride, lock your car from the inside
He's suspect No. 1, but I guess his race is run
He left a set of prints, he's not so smart as he thinks
'Cause who are they gonna get when you've outfoxed the cops
Here's my card I'm the continental op
'Cause who are they gonna get when you've outfoxed the cops
Here's my badge I'm the continental op
04 I Ain't No Saint (05:00)
I ant no saint
I can't turn the other cheek
I ain't no saint
But you can cool my temper
By the words you speak
I'll tell you straight from the shoulder
Straight from the hip
I'm falling over, she makes the pieces fit
If I get arrested or in some legal twist
She talks to the judge and gets the case dismissed
I ain't no saint
Won't make it through the pearly gates
I feel alright down hear lord
I think heaven's gonna have to wait
She doesn't tell me how to make a living
Don't lock her love up with a key
If I'm down my head is spinning
Don't call a doctor or a priest
I ain't no saint
Won't tow the party line
I ain't no saint
But you get my nomination
Every single time
I ain't no saint
Won't make it through the pearly gates
I feel alright down here, Lord
I think heavens gonna have to wait
I'll tell you straight from the shoulder
Straight from the hip
I feel alright down here, Lord
I think Heavens gonna have to wait
08 Smear Campaign (04:49)
The dirty tricks department is working overtime
Trying to stop the candidate from getting this time
The wheels are now in motion all the traps are set
Under this commotion will he walk into this mess
The state's intoxicated they're at the staarting gate
He may never make it to the planned TV debate
He can't fight off the big bucks of the old brigade
He's gotta watch his step in this smear campaign
They called a snap election in the summer heat
This town is reeling backwards
Like a drunk man on the streets
Feed those lies
Bend those minds at any price
Foul or air
As long as he's not there
Election time
Don't believe the papers it's not anybody's race
He's not a rank beginner it's not a children's game
He may get the nomination if he breaks through the chain
Or they'll shoot him down on Main street in this smear campaign
Just watch the party faithful fuel the dream machine
They've fudged up all the issues eat that scandal sheet
The dirty tricks department is nearly half insane
Trying to stop the candidate with a smear camaign
11 Seems to Me (04:54)
Seems to me, I've been all tore down before.
It seems to me, I've been down this way before.
Tears in your eyes baby, don't fool me anymore.
Tears in your eyes baby, don't fool me anymore.
Fool me anymore. Yeah....
I must admit it, guess my race is run...yeah..
I must admit it baby, it's a case of hit and run.
Don't look for me baby, 'cause I'm circling around the sun.
Don't laugh at me baby, I'm circling around the sun.
Yeah....oww....yeah...
Feel six feet under, feel like a drowning man...yeah..
Feel six feet under, feel like a drowning man.
Man overboard, and you won't lend a hand.
Man overboard, you won't lend a hand...yeah..
Seems to me you've gone for broke this time.
Seems to me you've gone for broke this time.
Hung, drawn and quartered.
You've hung me on the line....yeah....
12 No Peace for the Wicked (04:06)
NO PEACE FOR THE WICKED
No peace for the wicked
No way, no how If you've gone and did it
You gotta pay somehow
No use complaining
'Bout the hand that feeds
Now you know it's raining
How come you talk to me
How come you talk to me,
Well your friends in high places
Won't bail you out this time
With all your social grace
It's like a pantomime
Feeling so uneasy
You can't tell friend from foe
Your always looking back
To see who's coming through the door
You're like aloaded heater
Just about to go off the street
You need a baby-sitter
To pick you up if you can't stand the heat
You sold protection
Fed the common fear
Took yes for an answer
You didn't see the tears
Collecting from the loanshark
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