Customer Reviews

Glitter in the Gutter

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't conciously give this album a five star review, simply because of Malin's two previous solo albums. This album has some definite highlights, but also has some tracks that leave me scratching my head. The high points of this album are "Don't Let Them Take You Down," which is in the classic Malin vein and would fit in on either of his first two albums, "Aftermath," which works well with Malin's 'gutter rat' persona, and has a nice melody and solid lyrics. The best track is easily "Broken Radio," his duet with Springsteen. It's an enchanting song by itself, and Springsteen adds his beautifully, weathered voice to fit perfectly in with Malin's high pitched vocals. Hell, it's worth just to hear Springsteen sing the line "We never had a lot of cash, but we loved those kids" (a classic Springteenian line if there ever was one!). There are so other good tracks such as "Lucinda," and "Black Haired Girl" (with Jakob Dylan). The thing that sets this album back a little bit is that his first two albums were so good, that it kind of pales in comparison. Heat was a great album, and The Fine Art of Self-Destruction was a freaking masterpiece. Glitter in the Gutter has some tracks that are on par with those two, but has too many weak spots. To a casual fan, what was the point of "Since You're in Love 2007" or whatever the song is called now. The version on Heat was superior, although it wasn't even the best song on that album ("Scars of Love," in my opinion, takes that award). The lyrics on some of his up tempo numbers here are a little bit weaker than before, as if he was trying a little to hard to for commercial aspirations, and their arrangements leave me a little cold. The Replacements cover also kind of leaves you scratching your head, although Malin's performance is not bad, itself. It just makes you wonder the point of that one, other than for cred. My last knock on it is the production. Ryan Adams produced his first album, while Malin himself produced Heat, and those albums had a sweeping sound that seems to be left behind in favor of a leaner, more commercial sound. I have no problem with commercial aspirations, but the production on this one took it a little to far, therefore robbing it of some of its raw energy that was so evident on his earlier albums.

Overall, while this album doesn't reach the peaks of his earlier works. This is good, solid work from a performer that has all the talent in the world. This guy has so much talent that you expect everything to be earth shattering, and when it's not, it can be a little bit of a letdown. Born to Run's and Darkness on the Edge of Town's only come around once in a generation, but I was hoping Malin had one in him, and maybe he still does. But to those unfamiliar with what came before, you should be more than satisfied with this rocking album.

Jesse Malin's "Glitter in the Gutter" is his 3rd solo disc after 3 CDs with D Generation. This is his best disc yet, which is saying A LOT considering that "The Fine Art of Self Destruction" was a classic. It is consistently good from beginning to end. Malin's opener "Don't Let Them Take You Down" has a somber lyric, "A new generation & the whole world's shakin'; We were born in flames." He then fills the track with driving guitars and aching vocals. "In the Modern World" has the catchy chorus and Ryan Adams' guitar pumping, "By the radio with the afterglow; Mama told you now or never." Malin sang "Hungry Heart" on the Bruce Springsteen tribute set "Light of Day." The Boss returns the favor with a guest vocal on a slower song, "Broken Radio," with an arrangement that builds anthem-like, "The angels love you more than you know... I was thinking about the universe." He follows with a rock blaster, "Prisoners of Paradise," "In this vampire nation, it begins like it ends; She looked good on paper, at least I've got my friends." "Black Haired Girl" nods to the past & sounds like Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" with Malin's vocals doing a Van deja vu including references to "Mountain High, River Deep" (a twist on Tina) & "American Pie." Malin's relationship with Lucinda Williams is pushed into the spotlight with "Lucinda." She has returned the favor on her excellent new "West" CD. Malin covers a track from the Replacements' 1985 "Tim" in a stripped acoustic version. He follows it with an update of "Since You're in Love." "New York Nights" has a "Hungry Heart" feel in the chorus, "From the desert to this love stained town, I still find comfort in the underground." Ryan Adams does background vocals on the closer "Aftermath" with the pointed lyric, "She never got famous; She was the star of my life 'til we drifted like runoff or two ships in the night." Professional reviewer Thom Jurek described Malin as a "street rocker with a poet's heart," which is an apt description. "Glitter in the Gutter" brings all of Malin's strengths to the table: the vocals that are part vulnerability and part swagger, the strong guitar attack punctuated by acoustic moments. This is his best disc yet. Bravo!

Third albums have been keys to success for the first two artists mentioned in my title. "Glitter in the Gutter" is so strong, it could do the same for Jesse.

Every one of the 14 songs are completely different, fresh, and totally captivating. He picks you up, slaps you in the face, and puts you back down -- this meaning "listen closely" with the 1-2 punch of "Don't Let Them Take You Down" and "In The Modern World". Also, Jesse clearly didn't settle for status quo on this disc, as so many artists do. Cases in point - "Tomorrow, Tonight" and "Love Streams" are fantastic songs, and so very different from a lot of the other stuff Jesse has recorded and are illustrations of how Jesse is willing to take risks and do something different. "Black Haired Girl" is mentally exciting (just imagine being the guy in the song)and "Prisoners of Paradise" is the song for all you "slaves to the beat".

The entire album is just brilliant. Jesse and the band hit the ball out-of-the-park on this disc! Listening to this record and also being a life-long Springsteen fan, I can't help but draw an interesting parallel ... 32 years ago, when Bruce released Born to Run, his 3rd record, it changed everything. While most of us know how great the Boss' first two records were, it was the 3rd one that opened up a new chapter and changed his career in big ways. I can't help but think in the same way when I listen to "Glitter in the Gutter".

Clearly, "The Fine Art of Self Destruction" and "The Heat" are awesome records and stand on their own merit as great works of art. But when listening to this disc, something tells me that the days of seeing Jesse in small clubs might be numbered (note to those who have always wanted to see him live: DO IT NOW!). This disc has all the potential to springboard him to an entirely different level of public attention. The last line of Thunder Road keeps ringing in my ears..."It's a town full of losers, and I'm pulling out of here to win...."

Congratulations, Gender Bender! Count me in, like Dee Dee Ramone. Listening to this disc is like a "7-Day Weekend" ... keep up the fine art.

Following his impressive debut The Fine Art Of Self Destruction with 2004's gritty, impassioned The Heat, rock'n'roll outlaw Jesse Malin looked set for the sort of acclaim and stardom usually set aside for his pal Ryan Adams. Pre-release whispers on Malin's 2007 album hinted that it just might be his great artistic leap forward - the one to take him over the top. On arrival, Glitter In The Gutter has in fact revealed itself to be a step sideways for the singer-songwriter. It's a solid enough (if uneven) collection of songs that doesn't quite hit the songwriting highs of The Heat, but also has enough standout cuts to commend it.

Spirited opener `Don't Let Them Take You Down' is classic Jesse Malin - invigorating rock music delivered with a street poet's flair. The catchy and carefree `Don't Care About Tomorrow' with it's sunny, infectious AM radio chorus, is even better, and sounds ready-built for good radio stations everywhere. `Tomorrow Tonight' and `Love Streams' are two more good quality rockers, and both would be worthy singles. The obvious highlight here though is `Broken Radio', a stirring ballad on which Malin duets with Bruce Springsteen - a man who is not only very much an influence, but also, more latterly, a fan of Malin's. With the added genius of Ryan Adams on guitar, it's a tune that really couldn't fail.

At times though, Glitter In The Gutter veers toward more forgettable territory. `In The Modern World' strives to sound contemporary and edgy but ultimately feels somewhat generic, as does `Black Haired Girl' with it's cringe-worthy lyrics about "going for a ride... just like Bonnie & Clyde". Malin can do better than this. As if to remind us of that, on Glitter he's included an updated version of one of his best compositions. `Happy Ever After (Since You're In Love)' is essentially the same song as `Since You're In Love' from The Heat, but with Malin tacking the words "I hope you're happy ever after " onto the end of the title line in the chorus. Ultimately, it's difficult not to feel that it's all a bit pointless. Happily, all is not lost. After the disappointment of a patchy second half, Glitter In The Gutter finishes on a welcome high note with the poignant and assured songcraft of `Aftermath'.

Glitter In The Gutter is not a bad third effort by any means, just a little too heavy on the perspiration and a bit too light on the inspiration.

i loved jesse malin's first two albums, "the fine art of self destruction," and "the heat." very glad to have another one. "glitter in the gutter," is a tremendous set of songs, somewhat similar in theme to early springsteen; so it's appropriate that bruce makes an appearance here himself. malin and springsteen perform a superb vocal duet on "broken radio," a wonderfully poetic lyric that few current songwriters could match. malin's songwriting is uniformly strong across all three albums, in fact. he is one of the few lyricists at work today who harken back to a time when words could actually tell a story about someone in a song. his vocal style is original and pleasing, expressive without ever becoming overblown. a great recording. i recommend it wholeheartedly to all fans of soulful rock and roll.

It isn't often in my CD collection do I put aside something as OK, and then come back to it a few years later and realize I had missed something. In the case of Glitter in the Gutter, I found a haunting, poetic gem that was lost with a couple hundred other CDs. Jesse was fantastic on his earlier recordings as well, but hearing the Boss sing with Malin was phenominal. To be honest, I had forgotten about Jesse, but I am exilerated at what I have just rediscovered and will be listening for months to come.

Usually when a hardcore punk artist loses his punk edge and instead shoots for less hard-sounding fare, fans are quick to dismiss him as a sellout. Actually, I don't know if that's necessarily the case with Jesse Malin because it appears that the names of the bands he was associated with (D Generation; Heart Attack) won't ring a bell to most. Whatever the case, I got my hands on his latest release.

It's kind of ironic that this album is titled Glitter in the Gutter because as I just stated, there is no glam rock or punk to be found on here. Thankfully, what IS found on here are great tracks like "Tomorrow Tonight" and "Aftermath", as well as "Broken Radio", which features co-vocals from Bruce Springsteen. Another highlight is "Lucinda" (if you don't know whom that's about, you don't deserve to have it explained to you).

Jesse's acoustic piano cover of the Replacements' "Bastards of Young" neither helps nor hurts the album, and "Little Star" didn't do anything for me, but everything else makes Glitter in the Gutter worth listening to. Pick it up.

Anthony Rupert

I think this one surpasses anything Jesse has done, and should make all the BEST OF 07 lists. Very solid from start to finish, full of great songs. I am quick to make compilation cds leaving off filler tracks .... this one has no filler. Some songs took a little longer to warm up to (Bastards of Young, Love Streams, Aftermath) but most were instantly likeable. Love this disc.

After his first 2 superb albums Distruction and Heat, I never would have thought this was going to be better again. But it is! It starts out with great heavy guitar riffs and great lyrics like In The Modern World. The standout Broken Radio which is a duet with Springsteen. Another personal favourite is Aftermath but every song is great. Its an album that once you put it on you never want to take it off, and lets face it that doesn't happen too often this day and age. This could be the album of the year!

After two strong efforts that display his songwriting skills and emerging musicianship, Jesse Malin delivers a tour de force album that fires on all cylinders. No filler here--every song rocks with an urgency and appeal that will grab you and not let go. He mixes it up beautifully, changing tempos from song to song, but keeping the poignant, deeply personal lyrics at a consistently high level.



Things start out strong with "It's a Beautiful Day", which perfectly captures his optimistic-amidst-the-urban-jungle, classic NY rocker point of view which has become his signature. "In the Modern World" is fired by some rough-and-ready Ryan Adams guitar work, and gets the hard-rockin' Richter scale shakin'. "Tomorrow Tonight" slows things down just a touch, and displays Jesse's knack for wistful recollections of youth and while they make us the adults we become, sometimes you just have to let it go and be in the moment. "Broken Radio" gives us the much-discussed Boss duet, and frankly, anyone who doesn't dig this heartfelt ode to rock 'n roll is just missing the point.



Jakob Dylan contributes back-up vocals on "Black-Haired Girl", and we know this only because the liner notes tell us. The song is the real deal, but JD is blown out of the water by Jesse's passionate lead vocal.



There's a great piano and vocal cover of "Bastards of Young", the great Replacements song, a re-make of "Since You're In Love", and various other goodies. None of the weak spots we saw on "Fine Art of Self-Destruction" or "The Heat". I've seen Jesse live three times now, here in Chicago at the Double Door, and each time he shows a stronger mastery of his art as a performer. His current band is his best, and while I miss Christine, Johnny Pi and the other great original band members, this band has the whole NY rock thing going on in spades and they really do kick butt and take numbers. Get yourself out to see Jesse soon: he is growing into a star before our eyes. Catch him in a small club while you can--it is an unparalleled rock experience. (And I've had my share of those!)