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Rock of the Westies [LP]
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Rock of the Westies [LP]
Current price: $16.99
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Barnes and Noble
Rock of the Westies [LP]
Current price: $16.99
Size: CD
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Less than four months after issuing the landmark and autobiographical
,
re-emerged with a new band and a slightly modified sound. However, the departure of bassist
and drummer
began a deceleration in terms of
's success, which rivalled only
' and
's in terms of global acclaim. The revamped band grew to include new associates
on keyboards and
on bass as well as drummer
and guitarist
, who had both performed with
as far back as his first long-player. (He also retained the services of guitarist
and percussionist
from the most recent lineup.) Musically,
maintains the balance of harder-edged material and effective ballads. In fact, one of the album's strongest suits is the wide spectrum of strong material. The ballsy no-nonsense "Street Kids" and the aggressive gringo rock of the
sound-alike "Grown Some Funk of Your Own" contrast with the poignant power balladry of "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" or the dark and brooding tale of addiction on "Feed Me." Perhaps inspired by the crossover R&B appeal of "Philadelphia Freedom," the up-tempo "Island Girl" bears a distinct and danceable groove that lies somewhere between a slightly Jamaican vibe and disco. Perhaps more soulful in the traditional sense are the boogie-based "Hard Luck Story" or propulsive
beat that drives "Billy Bones and the White Bird." While the increasingly fickle public as well as lack of a strong follow-up to the chart-topping single "Island Girl" may have prevented
from becoming the heir apparent to
, in the wake of
's flawless predecessors it remains a strong and worthwhile entry that also set the stage for its follow-up,
. ~ Lindsay Planer