The long awaited
Waldos
album proved to be a big success, at least artistically. Led by former
Heartbreakers
co-lead guitarist and co-lead singer
Walter Lure
,
the Waldos
tear through a set of tunes that are as much fun as a CD can have with its clothes on. Unfortunately the air of tragedy that surrounds
Lure
and
tempers the rock & roll good time. After threatening to put out an album for about six years, this platter finally arrived and exceeded expectations. Produced by
Andy Shernoff
(
Dictators
), this is a fully realized piece of work. For lack of a simpler description, think of it as the follow-up (over 15 years later) to
the Heartbreakers
'
LAMF
album. Unlike much of the
Johnny Thunders
solo work, though, this stays firmly in
territory.
Rent Party
has several "new"
tunes on it (many people don't realize that
wrote and sang half
' material), all of which don't miss a beat from the old days. Of particular interest is
"Flight,"
a song that the original
did back in the
Richard Hell
days. It is a good-time rock & roll classic and it's hard to imagine why it was dropped from the band's set so early on. Also, a
Jerry Nolan
original,
"Countdown Love,"
sees the light of day for the first time here. Several covers that
had been playing for years find their way onto the disc as well. Most notably,
"Seven Day Weeked"
is pretty much as close as you'll get to a statement of purpose.
Ray Charles
"Busted"
gets the treatment as well.
must be a tough guy because most of the people who play on this are dead.
Tony Coiro
-- dead. Saxman
Jamey Heath
-- dead. Drummer
Charlie Sox
died before these sessions. Lifelong friends
-- dead. Somehow
has maintained his spirit and vision through it all and he's managed to stay alive. ~ Geoff Ginsberg