Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Plastic Fang CD

Coming almost four years after the previous Jon Spencer Blues Explosion release, PLASTIC FANG sounds like a retrenchment. Unlike the hip-hop and electronica-influenced ACME, PLASTIC FANG is a return to the Howlin' Wolf-via-early-Rolling- Stones blues-rock-noise of the early Blues Explosion. What's different this time out is that Spencer and crew enlisted an outside producer: Steve Jordan, former drummer for David Letterman's house band, New York session musician, and a key member of Keith Richards' '80s solo project the X-Pensive Winos.

A Jon Spencer record will never sound slick, but Jordan brings an undeniable commercial element to PLASTIC FANG. The sound is big and glossy, with Spencer's usual growling vocals and blues-skronk guitar set against an atypically upfront backing of Russell Simins' pummeling drums and the intensely rhythmic style of second guitarist Judah Bauer. Spencer's songs are more direct than before, with little of the gutter-sleaze persona he worked so hard to perfect in his early days. But for the fact that they actually rock, the opening "Sweet and Sour" and the almost ballad-like "Mean Heart" wouldn't sound out of place on a '90s-era Rolling Stones album. The peculiar New Orleans-style side trip of "Hold On" finds Spencer collaborating with Dr. John and Bernie Worrell, further proof that PLASTIC FANG is Jon Spencer's bid for the mainstream, and not a bad one at that.

This Limited Edition comes packaged in a special "candy-pack" plastic bag and includes a bonus enhanced CD.

Includes a bonus DVD disc.

Personnel includes: Jon Spencer, Dr. John, Bernie Worrell, Elliott Smith.

Personnel: Jon Spencer (vocals, guitar, piano, stylophone, Theremin); Steve Jordan (guitar, piano, organ, bass, drums, percussion, background vocals); Judah Bauer (guitar, background vocals); Dr. John (guitar); Bernie Worrell (Farfisa organ, Moog synthesizer); Russel Simins (drums, percussion); Willie Weeks.

Personnel: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (vocals, guitar, piano, Theremin); Steve Jordan (guitar, piano, organ, drums, percussion, background vocals); Judah Bauer (guitar, background vocals); Dr. John (guitar); Bernie Worrell (organ, Farfisa); Russell Simins (drums, percussion).

Audio Mixers: Don Smith ; Tim Conklin.

Recording information: 00 Rdng; HIt Factory; Magic Shop; Oordng; Sorcerer Sound; The Hit Factory, New York, NY; The Magic Shop, New York, NY.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Jen Czin; Loren Chodosh; Peter Arsenault.

Guests:Dr.John,Bernie Worrell, Elliott Smith

Personnel includes: Jon Spencer (vocals, guitar, piano, Theremin); Judah Bauer (guitar, background vocals); Dr. John (guitar); Steve Jordan (piano, organ, bass, drums, percussion, background vocals); Bernie Worrell (organ, Moog synthesizer); Russell Simins (drums, percussion).

Rolling Stone (4/25/02, p.78) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...A straightforward homage to classic rock and werewolves....The unbelievable truth is that PLASTIC FANG stomps like the devil in blue dress slacks..."
Spin (May 2002, pp.124-125) - "...PLASTIC FANG dodges the bar-band bullet by stressing explosion over blues...[by doing a] raw rereading of the Power Trio 101....they're here to rock your Pradas into a bunch..."
Spin (May 2002, pp.124-125) - 7 out of 10 - "...PLASTIC FANG dodges the bar-band bullet by stressing explosion over blues...[doing a] raw rereading of the Power Trio 101....they're here to rock your Pradas into a bunch..."
Alternative Press (5/02, p.94) - 8 out 10 - "...The sound is sweaty, sexy and leaner than a Thanksgiving turkey....It's that leaness that gives the Blues Explosion their meaness..."
Magnet (6-7/02, p.107) - "...Their best work yet..."
CMJ (4/15/02, p.5) - "...JSBX's most focused, fierce and visceral work to date..."
Mojo (Publisher) (April 2002, p.100) - "...A cracked Dionysiac power trio taking the choicest ingredients of blue-black funk'n'soul and fermenting 'em into a mind-blowing brew..."