Bob Malone }-- Reviews

The Bobster has unleashed and erudite and learned discourse on life and times. There may be less cuckoldry, infidelity and inebriation in this collection but Malone's literary roots are showing. The musical taproot lies deep in the earth of Scott Joplin, Albert Ammons, Thelonious Monk, Professor Longhair and James Booker with a certain classical gleam and boogie bounce supporting lyrics of a reflective and expostulatory nature. Old PT Barnum was right and if the fellow in the opener, "The Stripper" really thinks that she cares, he can stop his tipping and see if he gets the time of day. That sets the tone for catchy cynicism and artsy artifice. Guardedly autobiographical, "The Age of Steam" revels in the fictional joys of yesteryear while moving further into the phony TV, Bush, popcrap world of today. A respite is the soft respect and yearning lechery of "The Brush." I wonder if Gauguin felt the same way. It's a player piano ragtime gem that rolls on cheerfully tongue in cheek although in which ones I can't say. taking off on Malone's preferred jumping stride, "So What If It's Hallowe'en" illuminates the real cause of his night terrors...H. sapiens. The other side of that coin is the poignance of returning "Home To Me". It's a healing break from the other places elucidated in "Nasty Little Town." That Hollyweird can lead to excess desire to drink therefore, is no surprise but the need for self-destruction or unattainable desires when you quit fuels "Morning Desires" with ennui. As you can see, Bob Malone is not only a sublime key tickler but a man des bons mots aussi (loosely translated, he writes great songs). His newest may not revel in the juices but it certainly feeds the ears and what's in between. When you are listening, you may notice that the slide and harmonica sound familiar too, like Paul Rishell and Annie Raines. What could be better than Brooklyn, Beantown and Jersey joining the fray? It's real and evocative and cerebral and like nothing else on the blues market. Tom waits meets Prof Longhair. What a blast. 8 snaves.