Mandatory: The Best Of The Blasters
Liberation Hall, 2023
9/10
Listen to Mandatory: The Best Of The Blasters
The legendary California roots-rockers The Blasters collect 21 tracks here, where some of their best known songs are side by side with deep cuts and even a pair of selections from the soundtrack of 1984’s Streets Of Fire.
The raw and melodic “American Music” opens the listen with a swift and tuneful, retro rock’n’roll spirit, and it isn’t long until “I’m Shakin’” brings a bouncy and dance floor ready appeal of crisp drums and soulful singing from Phil Alvin.
Deeper into the middle, “Hollywood Bed” uses Gene Taylor’s playful keys amid Lee Allen’s animated saxophone playing, while “One Bad Stud” is a lively and smooth disc highlight that will get your body moving to the spirited guitar, crashing drums and firm keys.
Towards the end, some guests arrive, where Stan Lynch’s percussion on “Dark Night” helps make for a more dense and rugged demeanor, and David Hidalgo’s mandolin, Richard Greene’s violin and Larry Taylor’s stand up bass create even more diversity for “Little Honey”
An outfit who pioneered the sound of ‘Americana’, the frontman Phil Alvin and his brother and guitarist, Dave Alvin, have enjoyed successful solo careers. The drummer Bill Bateman spent time in The Cramps and bassist John Bazz has an impressive and lengthy resume, too.
For fans or first time listeners, this is an excellent package that explores the long running influence of The Blasters’ inimitable rockabilly, vintage rock’n’roll, punk and mountain music that continues to inspire all these decades later.
Travels well with: APB- Cue For The Blues; The Kingsnakes- Live At The Old Waldorf