A big month for One Little Indian Records with the release of Bjork’s ‘Vulnicura.and on the 30th March from across the Atlantic arrives Jesse Malin’s ‘New York Before The War’ and the guy is back with a classic.
This album is the follow up to 2010's ‘Love It to Life’ and on listening to the sweet opener, the piano led ‘The Dreamers', a ballad that has you thinking Jesse has taken a big change of direction, second song ‘Addiction’ puts the guy back in the guitar driving seat with a sweet toe tapper and you know that this record is going to be interesting.
Jesse’s ambitions for New York Before the War, were high: "I wanted to make a record that encompassed everything I've done, and I wanted to challenge myself sonically and rhythmically. I also wanted to create a soundtrack to battle these apathetic times."
This is a record that really counts and one that will be on the car stereo all summer long. ‘Turns Up the Mains and ‘Oh Sheena’ are pure street fighter rockers!
Jesse had forty songs to choose from for the record and the final seeds of the chosen songs were first planted when arriving home from tour. Jesse looked out of his apartment window to see "The War" painted on the side of an old building. "I tried to carve out a place where I could once again exist and sat down and wrote the rest of this record."
She's So Dangerous, a guitar ballad about disintegrating relationships and one last grab at happiness whatever the consequences is a song that works a charm. There are also plenty of guests helping out on the record, epic closer ‘Bar Life’ features Craig Finn, ‘Freeway’ has the MC5's Wayne Kramer on board and the aforementioned ‘Turn Up the Mains’ features Alejandro Escovedo. Peter Buck contributes guitar to ‘I Would Do It For You’.
So many of Jesse’s piers seen more than happy to help out, Why his man’s career has not jetted off into the big venue stratosphere remains a mystery.
Sessions for the album began in rural Virginia, before moving on to New York, finishing up at the Magic Shop in Soho. The band contained Derek Cruz, Catherine Popper, Randy Schrager and Paul Garisto.
Jesse Malin is a survivor and his music has a story to tell. Listen up!
Pete
10/11
