Recent Release-Imelda May - Mayhem

For those who don't know the name Imelda May, you soon will. She's fantastic.

Her new CD, Mayhem, is a full on blast of rockabilly blues mixed with retro swing and lounge music, sung by one of the best voices I've heard in a long long time. Sure, the influences are old, but  the sound is fresh, perhaps timeless.

The only flaw I can find with this CD is that it's a touch long, and there are a few too many ballads for my tastes, especially in a row, but there's not a song I don't like. She sings it like she means it with a lot of passion, and a wicked sense of humor as well. From the rockabilly blast of "Psycho" to the groove laden title track, to the super cool  "Inside Out", there's a lot here to keep your toes tapping. And on the softer side, "Eternity" and "All For You" are as successful ballads as you're likely to hear.

The biggest and best surprise on this disc is her cover of the old '80's tune "Tainted Love" (originally by Soft Cel). This is one of those rare occasions where changing the gender of the performer changes the meaning and impact of the song, even a pure pop confection such as this. A stroke of genius, this one.

By the time the bonus track , a remix of her earlier single, "Johnny's Got A Boom Boom", Imelda is sure to have won you over. This may not be a perfect disc, but its variety and overall vibe is quite entertaining, and Ms. May's voice will earn her a place in your collection, if not your greasy little rocker-billy heart.

41/2 out of 5 Daves.

P.S. The song featured here is but one side of Imelda May, I was torn between a few examples. I'll post another one soon to give a better idea of the breadth of her songwriting and vocal abilities. Watch this space, then buy this CD.

RIP Wurzel

Micheal Burston, AKA Wurzel, died over the weekend. He was a guitarist for Motorhead during their only four piece line up. Some of my favorite Motorhead records feature his playing. "No Remorse, Orgasmatron, Rock And Roll, 1916, and Bastards are all huge records for me (and I still have my Orgasmatron vinyl, a prized possession).

This clip from the legendary and too awesome for words British sitcom "The Young Ones" was my introduction to Motorhead. It was a show that only certain people in my school understood, and Motorhead was a band that even fewer got. For me it was the perfect match up. Wurzel is the guitarist on your left. In true BBC fashion they cut to the wrong player at the wrong times during the song, but that makes this clip even more fun. Enjoy!

Oh and Wurzel, thanks for helping me stay an outsider through my teens, it has served me well. Rock on into eternity brother.