JOE JACKSON BAND Volume 4 (Rykodisc) Rating: NN
Joe Jackson hits the Phoenix April 2.
Rating: NN
Twenty-five years after his debut, Joe Jackson is still rockin’ in an old-school Brit brat kinda way. He even reformed his original band for the record, which makes Volume 4 seem like he’s just ripping himself off! Plus ça change The hooky, gentle rockers could be Mix 99.9-type retro-contemporary pop radio fodder. Jackson recorded the album on analog tape and claims a variety of stylistic influences (ska! reggae! glam!), but the entire record just sounds like generic background-friendly pop rock ditties. Included is a bonus five-track live disc featuring fan faves like Is She Really Going Out With Him? Jackson’s faithful will dig it everyone else will yawn.
