Post by jptheprofessor on Jun 1, 2006 17:07:30 GMT -5
GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS – THE HARD STUFF (Eagles Records) At this stage of the game, we should all know what to expect when George Thorogood and the Destroyers issue a new album. Hard-driving rock’n’roll and blues has been Thorogood’s forte since day one, and it’s the main platter again on his latest studio serving, The Hard Stuff. Over the album’s fifteen tracks, Thorogood and his seasoned Destroyers rip and roar through an assortment of new original songs and updates of back-of-the-rack roots classics. The new originals; including the barnstorming title track, “The Hard Stuff,” the playful boogie “I Didn’t Know” and “Any Town USA;” rock as hard as anything Thorogood has put out to date. Also impressively rowdy are Thorogood’s growling update of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Moving,” plus punchy renditions of Texas blues guitarist Mike Morgan’s “I Got My Eyes On You,” Nashville roots ace/collaborator Tom Hambridge’s “Love Doctor,” Holland K. Smith’s “Rock Party,” Hound Dog Taylor’s “Give Me Back My Wig” and the album-closing rendition of John Lee Hooker’s “Huckle Up Baby.” On past Thorogood albums, anything beyond the harder-edged blues and boogie often turned out to be forgettable filler material; not the case here. A remake of Fats Domino’s “Hello Josephine,” dedicated to the people of New Orleans, is highlighted by spirited sax work from Buddy Leach. Thorogood finally delivers on a ballad, showing convincing restraint on a tender update of Jimmy Reed’s “Little Rain Falling,” and sounds comfortable doing delta-flavored acoustic slide on Johnny Shines’ “Dynaflow Blues.” And Thorogood also offers a credible acoustic-driven update of Bob Dylan’s “Drifter’s Escape.” Produced by Jim Gaines and the Delaware Destroyers, The Hard Stuff stays basic and bare bones, allowing the sound to be gritty and uncluttered by bells and whistles. George Thorogood and the Destroyers know their turf and are having fun with it; and sound tight, boisterous and seasoned. Thorogood gives his overall grittiest vocal display in years, yet now shows nearly equal competence when he steps outside of the box. The end result is that The Hard Stuff is George Thorogood and the Destroyer’s strongest and most complete album in years. This veteran force doesn’t reinvent the wheel, they just do what they do as convincingly as they have ever done it.