Review: Ian Hunter ‘Defiance Part 2: Fiction’

Review: Ian Hunter ‘Defiance Part 2: Fiction’

By Hal Horowitz

It’ll only take a minute into “People,” the opening track of this follow-up to Defiance Pt. 1, to realize two essential aspects of the album.

The first is that, as ‘Defiance Part 2: Fiction’ title implies, Ian Hunter is not shy commenting on, and frequently challenging, the socio-political situation in America and elsewhere. And the song’s lyrics of “It’s the gospel according to whatever channel you’re listening to…selling grown-ups nursery rhymes,” lay down that marker early.

Additionally, the vitriol with which he spits out those words makes it clear that even at his advanced age (in his early 80s when this was recorded), he has lost none of his energy, intensity or venom. Rather, Hunter seems more driven now than at his commercial prime as singer/primary songwriter for Mott the Hoople in the 70s.

Push play on any of these ten tunes (three more enhance the Record Store Day double vinyl edition) to hear a rocker reinvigorated musically, lyrically and vocally. While his voice shows signs of the wear you’d expect for someone well into his sixth decade as a professional frontman, Hunter uses that age-appropriate rasp to his advantage, punching out penetrating, incisive and carefully crafted words. The result is a collection that, far from being reheated leftovers from Part 1 as some may fear, is often more sizzling than that successful set.

Along with his lengthy musical career, Hunter has made plenty of friends. A long list of notable stars are along for the overdubbed ride, including key members of Cheap Trick, Stone Temple Pilots and the Black Crowes. The late Jeff Beck and Taylor Hawkins appear in some of their final recorded performances. While these names make for eye-catching publicity and might pull their fans into Hunter’s music, those contributions never steal the spotlight from his swaggering songs.

From the Stonesy-strut of “This Ain’t Rock and Roll” (they don’t make rock stars like they used to, he claims), to the glam stomp of “Kettle of Fish,” and the slide guitar slither driving “Weed” (“Let ‘em all smoke weed”), Hunter never lets up for forty-five minutes. Even when the tempo slows for the love song “What Would I Do Without You,” a waltz time declaration of love for his partner sung by a restrained Lucinda Williams, the song reverberates with forceful authority.

Old fans will grin as Hunter opens “Everybody’s Crazy But Me” with “‘Allo, ‘allo, ‘allo” a reference to the first (partial) word of “Once Bitten Twice Shy,” the initial offering from his solo debut. This features Hawkins’ drums thumping away like a heart attack as Hunter sings “I’m the last man standing as far as I can see,” a further reference to his longevity. “The 3rd Rail” ballad tells the chilling tale of a woman thrown “like a rag doll” on train tracks by a killer, as Jeff Beck solos and Hunter sings with resigned rage.

Considering these songs were created in his Connecticut basement home studio with longtime creative collaborator/multi-instrumentalist Andy York, then sent to the guests for their contributions, the sound is remarkably organic. The spirited playing and Hunter’s palpable enthusiasm makes this as powerful, arguably more so, as the previous disc.

Perhaps most encouraging though is that he’s now working on Defiance Part 3.

“This Ain’t Rock and Roll”

 
Ian Hunter website