Phantom, Rocker & Slick
Two years after the Stray Cats' acrimonious breakup, the three Long Island chums sheathed their claws and reunited for one last recording blowout before going their separate ways again—Brian Setzer back to his solo career, Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom to their new group with guitarist Earl Slick. There are no big surprises on the reunion LP. The boys revisit their punked-up rockabilly roots with renewed vigor, singing once more of hot cars, fast women and rockin' the night away. The Stray Cats' ensemble work does seem to have benefited from their efforts to stretch themselves. Setzer's flashy guitar work never sounded so bright and confident—much better even than his debut solo, The Knife Feels Like Justice—and Phantom and Rocker's unrestrained rhythm section kicks the raucous cuts on this LP into high gear. The Strays have also come into their own as producers on Rock Therapy, creating a crisp sound that's blessedly free of the high-tech mush that's rolling out of most recording studios these days. So what if all but Setzer's bluegrass tinged Broken Man sound like recycled Presley and Berry. The reconstituted group performs them with enough tongue-in-cheek humor to justify one last spin around the charts. It's not a good idea, though, to play Phantom and Rocker's new release back to back with their old group's farewell LP. They sound so much like the Hopelessly Lost Cats that the impulse to hurl old shoes at the record may be overwhelming. Rocker's vocals have as much vitality as a St. Bernard in 90 degree heat, and Slick's touted guitar picking is so muted it might as well have been recorded underwater. P, R&S could also get an award for penning the worst love songs in rock history. Can't Get It Right is up for special nomination: "I take you to the rock show, I take you right backstage/I take you to the party, where you lie about your age/Take you to the bedroom, I take you nice and slow/I take you through the motions, you don't want to know." Now that's love, (both EMI America)
Your Reaction
