Details
Track Listing
1. Don't Let Them Take You Down (Beautiful Day!)
2. In the Modern World
3. Tomorrow Tonight
4. Broken Radio
5. Prisoners of Paradise
6. Black Haired Girl
7. Lucinda
8. Love Streams
9. Little Star
10. Bastards of Young
11. Happy Ever After (Since You're in Love 2007)
12. NY Nights
13. Aftermath
Album Notes
Personnel: Jesse Malin (guitars); Jakob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen (vocals); Chris Shiflett, Josh Homme, Jamie Arentzen (guitar); Ryan Adams, Rob Caggiano, Justin Lomery (guitars); Chris Jenkins (viola); Helen Yee, Steven Berson, Chris George (cello); Eddie Wohl (keyboards); Sami Yaffa, Chris Chaney (bass instrument); Paul Garisto (drums); Johnny T. (percussion); Danny De LaMatyre, Christine Smith (background vocals).
Over a decade into his square-peg catalog, Malin finally made the record he always intended to make. GLITTER IN THE GUTTER succeeds at every turn because it sounds like--of all things--a New Jersey record. GLITTER IN THE GUTTER features the catchy, emotional dramatics that every Garden Stater from the Boss--who makes a fine duet partner with Malin on "Broken Radio"--to Bon Jovi has made his stock in trade. "Prisoners of Paradise" is a Springsteenian paean to "building it up and tearing it down" and "doing it all my life" that explodes into a soaring chorus, while "NY Nights" finds the narrator "on the run from heaven's hand me downs."
The record's few and minor missteps are when Malin juxtaposes his own talents with those of legendary songwriters such as Paul Westerberg--represented by an unnecessary cover of "Bastards of Young"--and Lucinda Williams--here referenced with the innocuous but clunky "Lucinda." Ultimately, though, GLITTER IN THE GUTTER is a tour de force for a songwriter with equal parts grit and glam, placing him somewhere between the Boss and Bon Jovi on the Jersey greatness meter. No small feat that.
Industry Reviews
American rock may be fractured, but its images are as iconic as ever, and Malin knows just how to serve them up.
4 stars out of 5 -- [A] fine-tuned assortment of melodic, punk-tinged, mid-paced numbers....His best release ever.
3 stars out of 5 -- Malin's at his best when unaffected, allowing the roaring 'Prisoners Of Paradise' and weary 'Aftermath' to provide salvation of sorts.
3 stars out of 5 -- [H]e's even secured voice-of-the-working-man Bruce Springsteen to provide vocals on the mournful 'Broken Radio'....Malin's capable of hitting an authentic nerve.
This is an old-fashioned roots-rock CD, with big choruses, blasts of heavy guitar, and lyrics about beautiful girls and beautiful losers. -- Grade: B+
3 stars out of 5 -- There are memorable, megatuneful adrenaline shots like 'Prisoners of Paradise'...
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