By Genre Blues / R&B Sleepless
Sleepless
Thursday, 09 April 2009 08:27 | 
Author: The Grouch | 
If you read my last post you already know that I dig the J. Geils Band. Their raw smack in the face shot of R & B blew me away when I first heard them. To this day Magic Dick in one of my favorite players - that man can do the impossible with a harmonica.
The Geils band broke up many years ago, however the guys in the band keep reappearing in various groups and venues. Sleepless is Peter Wolf's sixth solo album.
The thing about this LP that really made an impression is just how good it is. I was really surprised by the quality and depth of the songs. Peter Wolf has grown up - perhaps I have also matured a bit over the years. This LP strikes me as similar to Joe Strummer's Streetcore. Both albums are from guys who in their younger days raised a lot of hell and really shook things up - both albums show a progression toward more thoughtful and melodic music. While the brash in your face R & B sound of the Geils band has mellowed and morphed into this album, make no mistake this album does pack a punch - all be it a more refined quieter punch.
1.Growin’ Pain - a very good moving song about life and the changes we all go through.
2. Nothing But The Wheel - A country song that has some nice guitar licks and reminds me of the Stones' Beggars' Banquet LP. (I wonder if that is because Mick Jagger sings on this track? - He is also credited with playing harmonica. Mick can sing OK, but he should have left the harp to Magic Dick.)
3. A Lot Of Good Ones Gone - more country blues. Its' a good song, not the best on the album, but not a track to skip either. The song credits P. Wolf and W. Jennings - I wonder if this is Waylon Jennings?
4.Never Like This Before - Rocking Funky Jam with lots of horns and the feeling of the old Geils band. I'm a sucker for cool slide guitar; that combined with some righteous horns and Peter Wolf doing a Preacher-like vocal track complete with a choir backing him up on the chorus all come together for a really good song.
5.Run Silent, Run Deep - Slow things down - this is a brooding tune. You'd kill me for kicks if you could Run silent Run deep. Run River Run Run River Run. Pete has had some emotional ups and downs in his life (Like who hasn't right?) What makes his ups and downs more interesting than mine or yours is that he has the ability to take that pain and turn it into something magical. (That reads like bunk doesn't it? - It's true though. You can hear and even empathize with him through the music that he makes. Music, kids, IS magic)
6.Homework - absolute killer acoustic version of the classic tune that I first heard on the Live Full House album. This song was also done by Peter Green/Fleetwood Mac.(Written by O. Rush, A. Perkins, D. Clark)
7.Five O’ Clock Angel - OK I don't like this song. It is mellow and soft and just so sweet - I think it has filler track written all over it. Skip
8.Hey Jordan - Another nice quiet song. I can't say that I really enjoy this tune much, however the harmonica is kind of nice even though on the track information there is no mention of harmonica.
9.Too Close Together - I like this one a lot! The intro is reminiscent of Blow Your Face Out (see The Woober Goober Rap) This song features two guys I really like Keith Richards on Electric Guitar and Vocals and Magic Dick on Harmonica. Richards can definitely play guitar - his dynamite riffs in between piano runs and harp fills flow so well. Its textbook but its also so damn cool. If I could digress for a minute this song is an example of real honest soul as opposed to something from soul for dummies - contrast this track with anything by Joss Stone. She has a great voice, but somehow lacks a feeling of authenticity. I like her voice a lot but have the feeling that perhaps she is going through the motions based on what her management says might sell well - with Too Close Together I have the feeling that Peter Wolf, Keith Richards and everyone else involved doesn't give a rat's ass about how well it will sell. They do it because they dig it.
10.Some Things You Don't Want To Know - another Waylon Jennings song? This track sounds like it was left over from the Beggars' Banquet sessions. Country/Blues. Its funny - I didn't think I liked country music. This song while not a favorite, isn't so bad that I'd skip it either.
11.Oh Marianne - More country music. Its not bad. The guitar is actually interesting. The softer side of Peter Wolf comes out again. I actually find my self enjoying the organ. What's more I don't even mind the accordion which is an instrument I dislike almost as much as the sitar. THAT IS AMAZING.
12.Sleepless - the title track starts with a really nice organ bit playing around the edges of the song. The guitar is right on. I have the feeling that I'm listening to an old spiritual. I like it. Its slow, grinding and heavy. This song reminds me of some stuff by a much younger band Robert Bradley's Black Water Surprise (The line up when I saw Robert Bradley consisted Robert backed by a group of 20 somethings who could raise the roof with screaming guitar licks and funky organ runs)
4 out of 5 scowls - worth the money, but not a must have classic.
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Last Updated (Thursday, 09 April 2009 08:30)