Damn the Torpedoes
Thursday, 09 April 2009 07:24 | 
Author: The Grouch | 
Tom Petty has been around for a long time. I remember first hearing about him in Junior High School. He is one of those artists that I like so much I can't think of much he has done that I really don't like. I like his voice, his guitar playing and for lack of a better word his "sound".
Over the years he has played with Bob Dylan, George Harrison and others - of all the work Petty has done his work with Harrison is my least favorite; that has more to do with the fact that I find George Harrison's music really annoying. I HATE the Sitar and almost everything Harrison did after While my Guitar Gently Weeps; I digress...
If you were to buy one Tom Petty LP, I'd say get Damn The Torpedoes. I heard an interview with Petty in which he said that in his opinion this was the album in which they finally came into their own - they nailed the sound that sets them apart from other groups, the sound that after a couple of notes you immediately know who is playing. That sound is melodic yet gritty, bold yet subtle, catchy but not trite (Good God that reads like a bunch of crap doesn't it? Like some pretentious Jag talking about wine.) Here is the bottom line:
The songs are good. He sings well and I like the two string licks combined with the solid pounding on the drums. This album sounds like a really kick ass bar band playing rock and roll - music they actually like and not some over inflated sociopolitical statement on things they don't really understand or necessarily give a rat's ass about. Think of it this way: The Heartbreakers are the Anti-Bono
1. Refugee - Killer beat and great guitar line. I don't know maybe you were kidnapped tied up and held for ransom, but you don't have to live like a refugee. Great song with cool licks.
2. Here Comes My Girl - Again I like the drum line/guitar line combination. Petty sings about how life in his town sucks. Who can't identify with that? The one good thing is his girl. At the end of a long hard day in which nothing seems to matter - there is his girl who makes it all OK.
3. Even The Losers - The strange into before the actual song is interesting. Three for three the drums and guitar start a classic rock jam before Petty's voice comes in. To be honest I don't really understand what he is saying aside from Even The Losers Get Lucky Sometimes. It really doesn't matter though, the beat, chord progression and sweet licks are enough. He could be singing "Blah Blah Blah de Blah Blah" and the song would still rock.
4. Shadow of A Doubt - this is a song I don't care for that much. It is of course totally subjective. The melody just doesn't grab me. He seems to be whiney and aside from some nice work the drummer does on the ride cymbal I found myself losing interest...kind of like the feeling I have when I hear George Harrison playing that stupid sitar.
5. Century City - I like this song. I like the rhythm. I like the guitar line and the drummer's fills. The guitar solo rocks. What is he singing about? Got me. I think it is the name of the studio where they recorded the album. Just listen to the music in this song - that is enough.
6. Don't Do Me Like That - Killer Groove! The drums rock. The guitar is great and the organ adds a nice sound around the edges. This is one of my favorite songs - all the parts come together, each fairly simple on their own however as a group the sum is greater than the parts. The organ reminds me of Traffic. Listen to this song.
7. You Tell Me - a slow groove - nice beat - fairly soft guitar. The song is pretty laid back with nice keyboard work filling out the edges. Better than Shadow of A Doubt, but far from the mark of Refugee or Don't Do Me Like That. I find myself tapping my foot by the end of the song.
8. What Are You Doing in My Life? - Nice intro - funky piano and nice slide guitar. I like slide guitar a lot and this song doesn't disappoint. Musically I like this song and lyrically it is pretty funny. It seems some groupie caused all sorts of trouble for Tom with his girlfriend. Very good song.
9. Louisiana Rain - Soft country balled. This songs reminds me of something Bob Dylan might have done. The guitar is nice; the tune melodic. I can't say this song rocks, it doesn't. It is however a nice song that is in the right spot as the last song on the album.
All in all Damn The Torpedoes gets 4 out of 5 scowls. There are a couple of tracks that detract from the album as a whole ( tracks 4, 7 and 9) otherwise a very good album indeed.