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(More customer reviews)I'm sure that in any serious discussion of rock-chick luminaries there would be the inevitable nods to the incendiary booze-blues of Janis Joplin, the subtle explosiveness of Grace Slick or the swirling sorcery of Stevie Nicks. Unfortunately, within the very narrow corridors of the rock caste system you'll never talk (or drink) long enough to get around to a performer who is every bit their equal - Joan Jett.
In many respects she never escaped the extremely long and suffocating shadow of her one monster hit, I Love Rock and Roll, a heavy rotation radio staple of the early 1980's. Unfortunately, while her mega-watt star turn was fleeting her early body of work has more than guaranteed her legacy - specifically Bad Reputation - a balls-to-the-wall rock record that is still incinerating iPods even today.
However, Jett remains the ultimate guilty pleasure. And, if the rock Illuminati who all talk a good game about Joplin (my bet is that they have not voluntarily played her records for twenty years) were truthful, any party is a much better affair with Jett's snarling, erotic swagger on soundtrack.
All of which brings me around to her late 1980's comeback recording, Up Your Alley. While many performers facing a make-or-break career crossroads would slip into another guise to broaden their appeal (Rod Stewart, anyone?) Jett stayed true to herself and unleashed what I believe is her best and most satisfying work - forty minutes of decibel shredding power-chord rock that is relentless and life affirming. From the opening of the one prominent single, I Hate Myself For Loving You through Riding With James Dean, Little Liar and a blistering cover of Chuck Berry's Tulane, Jett delivers the booming pyrotechnics in leather and bass-line spades!
Up Your Alley was... is... the welcome return of an authentic rock original - and one of the best driving records around. Five Stars!
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