Now Wave
(Review by Rutledge)

With all due respect to that pompous ass Elvis Costello, it seems to me that Joe Jackson has written as many great songs as ANY of the new wave’s original Angry Young Men.

A friend of my sister’s once referred to Jackson’s early work as "the best music ever"; anyone who’s heard LOOK SHARP or I’M THE MAN knows that that’s no exaggeration. Stylistically comparable to the typical power pop/mod/new wave vinyl issues of the day, those first two J.J. albums have endured the test of time for two main reasons: the man was a dynamite, emotive singer; and the songs were flat-out CLASSICS. There was also the matter of those smart, scathing, drop-dead brilliant lyrics. 1980’s reggae-leaning BEAT CRAZY broke from the radio-ready new wave pop formula but retained the stellar songwriting and sharp, vitriolic lyrical genius. Poppy Robbie may bitchslap me for saying this, but here goes: while I do love the vaunted first three Costello albums, I think Jackson’s first three full-length efforts were just as good.

VOLUME 4 reunites Jackson with his old band-mates for the first time in 23 years. In the hands of a lesser artist, such a reunion album could very well come across as just another contrived, nostalgic abuse of the "Dude, let’s get the old band back together!" ideology. But Jackson---who hadn’t made a pop record in a dozen years prior to recording these new tunes---still "has" it as a singer and songwriter. His voice sounds GREAT, and VOLUME 4 is simply one of the best albums you’ll hear all year, period.

Those expecting a carbon copy of the first two albums’ nervous, punky pop sound will be let down. But those hoping for the return of "classic Joe Jackson" will get just that. Fans of those three previous Joe Jackson Band albums are likely to dig the new tunes just as much. The band sounds terrific, and the material is Grade A. Lead track "Take It Like A Man" mirrors the lively, catchy piano-bar pop of NIGHT AND DAY’s more accessible songs. The pretty "Still Alive" and "Chrome" are melancholic little numbers that’ll break your heart. "Awkward Age" is a pure pop gem that would be a massive radio hit if they still played good music on the radio. "Blue Flame" and the extraordinary "Love At First Light" are gorgeous, heartrending ballads that have to rank amongst Jackson’s finest songs to date. The fun, bouncy "Little Bit Stupid" rocks with moddish joie de vivre. "Thugz `R’ Us", a biting, laugh-out-loud funny indictment of wanna-be gangsta suburban homeboys, sounds like a BEAT CRAZY outtake. All in all, this is yet another masterful album from one of the most underrated talents in the history of rock. This guy is pure class; he'll still be going strong long after all of today's "buzz" bands have drifted off into oblivion.

As 1991’s LAUGHTER AND LUST proved, there are few people in this world who can write catchy pop songs as well as Joe Jackson. I respect him for wanting to do more than that, for being willing to devote himself to more "serious" music without having any regard whatsoever for whether or not his art is "saleable". But still, I’m grateful for the fact that he still throws us fans a bone every once a while and delivers straight-forward pop albums like VOLUME 4. And what’s great about this new one is that the guy still sounds like he’s at the peak of his creative powers! His voice is still packed with urgency and power, his songs still have the stuff to hook you fast, and his clever words still ring true. Now 47, Jackson probably sees more symphonic and esoteric conceptual projects looming on the horizon. Let’s just hope that he doesn’t rule out doing a few more pop records before it’s all said and done.