Bobby Bare Jr.

Young Criminals Starvation League - (Bloodshot)   

Some artists are capable of just about anything, keeping predictability at bay. Count Bobby Bare Jr. as one of these artists. Yep, you heard me.

Previous full-band efforts Boo-Tay and Brainwasher wouldn't have lead to such a conclusion. Mixing a bit of "boogie" with a hell of a lot of "woogie", these efforts delivered fine swamp rock with Bare's sense of humour often taking centre stage. What Bare, as a solo artist, reveals here is depth and substance worth of most any accomplished songwriter you care to name. Young Criminals' Starvation League is an intimate look into Bare's world - populated by hard luck cases, confessions, and observations that range from playful to heartbreaking.

"Flat Chested Girl From Maynardville" is a textbook example of all of this coming together - its humourous title disguising a tale of almost unbearable solitude, perfectly complemented by its dramatic accompaniment (almost Beatle-like in parts). The Beatle reference isn't as removed as you might think. Bare exhibits reverence for rock and roll pioneers on "Dig Down" - calling on, among others, The Beatles, Pete Townshend, and Chuck Berry as some of rock and roll's true and only "originals". Pretty ironic when you consider that Young Criminals' Starvation League is one of this years most original releases so far.

Still, despite successfully venturing into The Smiths' "What Difference Does It Make" (perfectly suited to Bare's gravely vocal) and the playful pop of "The Monk At The Disco" and "I'll Be Around" (complete with horn section), Bare is firmly rooted in country stylings. The ballad "The Ending" offers perhaps the most heartfelt and genuine vocal of Bare's career, while "Stay In Texas" is a hometown-proud anthem that finds Bare wearing his heart on his sleeve.

Something of a surprise, Young Criminals' Starvation League is, on the whole, tough to categorize and pigeonhole. It's just Bobby Bare Jr. doing what he does - and he does it great.

8.0