Ian Hunter
Shrunken Heads (Yep Roc)
By Karen Choy
Published: June 2nd, 2007 | 1:50pm
Though Ian Hunter is most famous for his work with Mott the Hoople, don't expect Shrunken Heads to be "All the Young Dudes (Part II)." Instead, what we've got is an eclectic bunch of songs that's more comparable to Bruce Springsteen or John Mellencamp. But this isn't surprising because Hunter isn't interested in reliving the past.
On the down-home country ditty "I Am What I Hated When I Was Young," Hunter sings about his distinctly unhip lifestyle (I don't wear designer clothes/ I ain't got pins in my nose / I ain't got a tattoo on my bones). He's mocking himself here, but ultimately, he concludes, "I hate what I used to be when I was young." Hunter pokes fun at
himself plenty more — the opening track "Words (Big Mouth)" is a wry, feel-good song that would make the perfect soundtrack for a trip on the open road. Hunter also uses his biting wit to tackle weightier topics such as Hurricane Katrina (the bluesy "How's Your House") and the U.S. War Against Terrorism (a very Boss-like "Soul of America"). Hunter is mostly successful at this — especially on the wonderfully catchy "Brainwashed," his critique of consumerism. But Hunter verges on cheesiness on the album's closer, "Read "Em and Weep," a sappy son about heartbreak. He's more successful at soul-searching on the tender
"Guiding Light," which features backing vocals by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. With Shrunken Heads, Hunter shows that he's still a great musician. Yes, he's an old dude, but he seems like a pretty all right one.
Issue #13
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