Concrete Evidence4 Out Of 5 Stars
The husky, sultry voice of singer/songwriter Johnette Napolitano led Concrete Blonde to a successful career, and this Essential Collection gathers 14 songs to showcase both her voice and the tight combo playing of Jim Mankey and assorted drummers. The lone hit, "Joey," is here, along with alternative faves like "Dancing On The Edge" and "Still In Hollywood." Owing more than a passing debt to The Pretenders, songs like "God Is a Bullet" and the mournful "Caroline" (about the passing of a friend) tease the shadow of Chrissie Hynde.
Napolitano is still a force of nature, as the rockier songs attest. "The Sky Is A Poisonous Garden" pounds away and the cover of Hendrix's "Little Wing" is true to the original while still giving Napolitano an imprint of her own. At the same time, the band's pop instincts were as good as any other IRS stablemates. "Joey" is all Spector Girl Group and "Happy Birthday" is nearly jangle-pop. There's a pretty even representation from the band's four IRS albums, leaning towards the gold "Bloodletting" (whose title song should've been included). Overall, a satisfying collection from an underrated band.
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