5 Stars
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It’s always a happy thing when one of your favorite artists returns from a lengthy absence. (Ian Hunter’s last album before this was the slightly patchy “Artful Dodger” in 1996.) What’s even happier is when he comes storming back with the sort of record that makes you realize why you held him in such high esteem in the first place. Rant is such an album.
It’s a triumphant return for Hunter, full of irresistibly catchy tunes, political awareness, and storming pop-rock.
When Mott the Hoople released their first album in 1969 (With a youthful Ian Hunter as chief songwriter, singer and piano player), their songs were all about girls, love, and living on the streets. There’s no big change here except the songs are indebted to thirty-odd years’ experience of the highs and lows of life.
Opening song, “Still Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” says it all, really. Hunter sings about his love for his profession, backed by a rock steady dance beat, barrelhouse piano, and some simply superb lead guitar from Andy York (borrowed from John Cougar Mellencamp’s band). Mott says this song is a surefire way to get the aisles rockin’ in any Tahitian Queen Friday Happy Hour.
The quality of songs doesn’t drop off after this, every one’s a gem, and with much more of a cutting edge than his more recent outings at the time, both lyrically and musically.
Hunter has surrounded himself with some of his best mates, who, fortunately, are all extremely talented musicians. Long-time cohort Tommy (Moondog) Mandel should get a special mention for his atmospheric keyboards on the wonderful “Death of a Nation.”
“Morons,” with its Mott the Hoople marionette era sound, is an undisguised swipe at the despised management of the record industry: “Morons don’t matter at all. No education, No information. Morons are ugly and small. They lower the tone. Get rid of them all.”
Biting lyrics there from Ian Hunter.
On the other side of the coin is Hunter’s rant to his wife of thirty years, the beautiful Trudi. “Knees Of My Heart” is a realistic look backwards at what makes a good marriage work.
“Rip off” is a well-deserved uncontrolled rage against the hypocrisy of the British Government and Hunter’s well-stated reasons for moving to live in America. It’s as relevant now as it was then, possibly even more so now.
The crisp production by Andy York and Ian Hunter still allows the beat to take you seamlessly from one song to the next. What with a marvelous packaging job by Hunter’s new America record label, Fuel 2000, what more could you possibly want?
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Ian Hunter may have been in his sixties when he recorded this, but his heart still pumped Rock ‘n’ Roll.
These songs kill live; the drive-building riff of songs like “Good Samaritan” are just monsters once Hunter gets them on the stage.
Ian Hunter sings each song with renewed vigor, harking back to his time with Mott the Hoople in their Island Record days.
There is not a weak track on this album.
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All in all, this was a mighty fine return to the Rock ’n’ Roll stage by Ian Hunter and led to a fine string of albums to follow, many wonderful tours with the Rant Band, and four tours with a reformed Mott The Hoople.
In May 2019, Ian Hunter had his 80th birthday, celebrating in style with a string of dates at the City Winery, New York. The life and times of Ian Hunter seem never-ending, with another album with the Rant Band destined for release soon after the present celebrations. Long may they continue to roll on by.
Musicians
Mickey Curry – Drums
Tommy Mandel – Loops, Keyboards
John Conte – Bass
Rich Pagano – Bongos
Steve Holley – Percussion
James Mastro – Six-String Fuzz Bass
Doug Petty – Organ
Andy York – Guitar, Electric Piano, Groovebox, Background Vocals
Ian Hunter – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Rick Tedesco, Robbie Alter, Jesse Patterson, Lisa Ronson, Willie Nile, Ian Hunter – Gang Vocal
Tracks Listing
5. Purgatory
6. American Spy
7. Dead Man Walkin’
8. Good Samaritan
9. Soap ‘N’ Water
10. Ripoff
11. Knees Of My Heart
12. No One
Written by Mott The Dog who can be found at Fletchers’ Folly on Pattaya’s Dark Side.
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