My Amazon Reviews: The Wallflowers "Glad All Over"

Happy Happy Joy Joy
4 Out Of 5 Stars

Showing more spunk than would be expected after a seven year hiatus, "Glad All Over" finds The Wallflowers rocking harder than probably any of their previous albums. Especially after the neo-folk of Jakob Dylan's pair of solo cd's, this is an unexpected surprise and delight. Adding to the jet fuel is drummer Jack Irons (late of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Mick Jones guesting on two rather Clash like songs. "Glad All Over" is shaking all around with a triumphant feeling.

"Reboot The Mission," they snap on the best song here. With Jones adding back-up vocals, it's Casbah pleasing rock. That's not all the band has up their sleeve, though. The frantic opener "Hospital for Sinners" sounds wickedly fun, even a little sinister. Same with the piano pounding "Devil's Waltz." If you're looking for the "One Headlight" clone, the closest it the disc's closer "One Set of Wings." But this is an album that punches harder than the old songs. The band sounds absolutely revitalized, and that makes "Glad All Over" a really good album.

     

My Amazon Reviews: The Call "Let The Day Begin"

Let the Day Start
4 Out of 5 Stars

Perhaps the best known song in The Call's expansive excellent library was the title song on "Let The Day Begin." It came closest to cracking the Top 40 (that and only "The Walls Came Down" ever charted the top 100, giving The Call exactly two charted singles), and it became the theme song for one Al Gore during his bid for the Presidency.

It is deservedly an anthem from the decade. Yet why couldn't The Call capitalize on all the acclaim? That is a question better left for philosophers and pop trivia addicts. But for some reason, The Call never exploded in the way many of their biggest fans (like Bono, Peter Gabriel, Martin Scorsese and Harry Dean Stanton) predicted they would. Stanton even contributes a harmonica solo on "For Love" and Scorsese would soon cast lead singer Michael Been in "The Last Temptation of Christ."

"Let The Day Begin" is filled with the kind of big songs that The Call is best known for, like "You Run" or the storming "Same Old Story." As usual, Been's lyrics are loaded with Christian allegory, some blatant ("For Love"), some not so much (the beautiful "Uncovered"). His reach was always high, and while his success never seemed to make his grasp, his music rarely missed the mark. "Let The Day Begin" is a big 80's album - and sounds it - standing with The Call's best works.