Rant

A stunning effort in songwriting prowess and tasteful arrangements, Rant stands as one of Hunter's most thrilling albums.Kicking off with the irresistible "Still Love Rock & Roll," reminiscent of the good-time swagger of "Just Another Night" and "Once Bitten Twice Shy," it is clear that Hunter's chops, singing, and muse are in peak form. Without losing a step, he dives straight into the acoustic aggression of "Wash Us Away," the type of unplugged that showcases Hunter's raspy voice beautifully. Other highlights include the absolute powershouse rocker "Purgatory," with loops, false-starts, and a host of choruses washing in and out in heavy trance fashion. Further, "Dead Man Walking," one of the few ballads, easily ranks with "Irene Wilde" for the sheer imagination behind the music, despite the seething despair growling beneath. In fact, one could go on listing the remarkable tracks till the songlist is finished: how could one leave out the charming playfulness of "American Spy," the massive crunch of "Good Samaritan," etc., etc.?Already in his 60's, it is nothing short of amazing to see Hunter conjure up such a fresh collection of hooks, tunes, and attitudes. It is a testament to the staggering range of creativity in the man.

INCREDIBLE!!!!

WE LOVED IT!!!!! My husband and I are HUGE Ian Hunter fans! This C.D. was a pleasure to listen to!!

Ian Hunter makes me feel young again! What a great comeback album by this 55 year old rocker, who proves he's still got the magic touch. This cd contains his usual formula of pub style rockers and ballads. But this time the songwriting is razor sharp and his backing band is extra hot. The album starts out with that familiar Ian Hunter piano intro that goes into "STILL LOVE ROCK AND ROLL". I like when he sings "It ain't my fault that I never grew up. I got bit by the bug. I still love rock and roll". Oh yeah! Then comes another good rocker "WASH US AWAY", where Hunter displays a voice a little worn by the years, but to my ears, even more fun to listen to. Then comes the ballad "DEATH OF A NATION". This is a great little tune, but it's also a sad one where Hunter sings about the downfall of his native England. On "MORONS", Hunter does a top rate smokin' punk rocker that reminds me a lot of the music Ian Dury and the Blockheads put out in the late 70's. If you remember the song "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll" you'll know who I'm talking about. "AMERICAN SPY" has got the trademark Hunter sound and reminds me a little of his old song "Just Another Night", which was another great rocker of it's day. Another nice ballad here is "DEAD MAN WALKING". I liked the George Harrison type guitar work by Andy York on this song. He serves as a very adequate replacement for the late Mick Ronson. My favorite song off of here is "RIPOFF". A great rocker that rivals anything that his old band Mott The Hoople has ever done. It's also got some of the most biting lyrics on the album, where Hunter sings again about his native England being a "luxury not many can afford". Evidently, Hunter isn't too happy with England. But I'm happy he put out this impressive new cd. I think it's the best he's ever done, and the best rock album I've heard this year yet. It definitly gives this old grey-haired rocker something to RANT about.

Too self-conscious and introspective for pub rock, too butt ugly and unhip for glam, Mott the Hoople was an anomaly, a band that just couldn't be pigeonholed. Its leader, Ian Hunter, brought a Dylan-esque voice and lyrical sensibility to thunderous hard rock, although it was on some of their quieter moments, such as "I Wish I Was Your Mother" from the masterful "Mott" album, that Hunter displayed real brilliance and emotional depth as a songwriter. Unfortunately, the band decompensated right after its hard-earned mid-'70s artistic and commercial peak. Hunter went on to a career that started off with a bang but became increasingly erratic. Hot on the heels of last year's well-worth-picking-up "Once Bitten Twice Shy" compilation, comes "Rant," easily the best thing he's done since his classic 1975 eponymous solo debut. The sound on "Rant" is both contemporary (employing at times exotic instruments, vocal effects and drum loops) and timeless (plenty of choppy piano and fiery Mick Ralphs-style guitar). As you might imagine from the title, Hunter takes a jaundiced look at the state of the world and his own mind - and he's not exactly pleased with what he sees. The ex-pat swipes at Britannia ("Death of a Nation," "Ripoff"), the ugliness of the beautiful people ("Purgatory") and idiots ("Morons"). But the album is not all bitterness and bile. On "Rant's" final two tracks, the tender love ballads "Knees of My Heart" and "No One," which eschew the acerbity as well as rock instrumentation, Hunter's rough-hewn cockney vocal cuts through best. Quite frisky for a no-longer-young dude past 60, Ian Hunter still knows how to rage - and rant - against the dying of the light.

TRACK LISTING1. Still Love Rock 'n' Roll2. Wash Us Away3. Death Of A Nation4. Morons5. Purgatory6. American Spy7. Dead Man Walking (Eastenders)8. Good Samaritan9. Soap and Water10. Rip Off11. Knees Of My Heart12. No-One"England's such a ripoff" Ian Hunter's by now endearing croaky voice growls out, from his tax exile house in the USA. Forgive my cynicism. I can understand his dissatisfaction, but not from someone who hasn't lived there for ages. I agree with his sentiments on the song, though, from my position and it certainly rocks with a fire old Ian hasn't lit under himself for years. Yes, "Ripoff" is undoubtedly a corker of a track. This is also Hunter's most overtly political album, he is indeed having a "rant", although, as often has been the case with Ian Hunter (and I have enjoyed his music since 1972) I am never quite sure where he is coming from politically. He has, for me, always been a bit of a mix of contradictions. His love/hate relationships with both the USA and the UK, for a start. Either way, nevertheless, the albums rocks, big time. His best since 1979, by far.The brooding, menacingly pounding beat of "Good Samaritan" is another highly convincing number on this vibrant album. Hunter's voice rides confidently over the solid backing. "Purgatory" has an infectious, funky-ish guitar opening of a track that sounds like The Rolling Stones' late eighties/early nineties material. "American Spy" is full of Tom Petty-style riffs and a classic industrial-strength Hunter vocal. "Dead Man Walkin'" has a "Streets Of Philadelphia"-style drum beat and one of those great stately Hunter piano backings and a sad yearning vocal. "All the world's a stage, it's just that I ain't on it anymore...." sings Hunter, with breathtaking honesty. "What am I supposed to do now...sink to the bottom of obscurity..." he asks, on what is a very moving song. It is almost as if Hunter has given up on himself at this point.Thankfully, "Wash Us Away" sees him lifted up again, although in a very nostalgic mode, thinking back to his childhood in the 1940s. As with many of Hunter's songs, though, as much as the song sounds inspiring, I am always left by wondering exactly what he was on about. It sounds meaningful so therefore it must be. Joe Strummer's solo material has the same effect on me. "Morons" is a bit of a low point on the album, despite its Mott The Hoople-esque, promising piano introduction and convincing first verse, the chorus is pretty awful. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, it has a Dickensian vigour about it in places. Any doubts I had about "Morons" are blown away by the wonderful "Knees Of My Heart", a pulsating classic Hunter rocker in praise of his long-suffering wife Trudi, still with him after so many years. "I bought you a house with a burglar alarm system.." is a great, typically wry Hunter line."No One" is an archetypal Hunter mid-pace rock ballad, full of those characteristic rises and falls and dramatic big chorus. When the guitar solo comes in you almost feel it is Hunter's old mate Mick Ronson. "Still Love Rock And Roll" does what you would imagine it would - it blows away all the cobwebs and rocks with a huge thump. He even ends with a "Golden Age Of Rock And Roll" "that's all". "Death Of A Nation" perfectly exemplifies the dichotomy I find in Hunter's lyrics. Exactly what is he bemoaning as he imagines talking with The Queen, Prince Charles and Winston Churchill? He is speaking of a nation dying - what, in 2000, under a Labour government? Things had been much worse, Ian. Despite my misgivings over the lyrics, the song has one hell of an atmosphere to it. It is one of my favourites of his. Actually the song is far more relevant in 2018. "Look what they've done, it's the death of a nation...". Indeed."Soap 'n' Water" is a slow burning number with Ian ranting at someone or other about something or other. Not quite sure who or what, but it sounds good in that majestic Hunter fashion, as the whole album has.

A very good album but you expect nothing else from Ian

good

another fine album from mr.hunter.somehow missed this one,been a fan since 1969 when i first heard the first mott the hoople album

Slow burner but after a few plays shows Hunter at his best. Some great songs with exceptional lyrics.