Way over forty years into his career, but American singer/songwriter/guitarist Brian Setzer (Stray Cats, Brian Setzer Orchestra, …) sounds fresh and eager as ever on his new album The Devil Always Collects. He doesn’t seem to be bothered by the ominous words from the title track: “I bought that ticket to heaven // That he had to sell // But I guess I missed the fine print // About the detour to hell.” No, with a cheerful mood the iconic rock ‘n’ roller swings through eleven infectious songs – including two covers; Girl on the Billboard (Del Reeves) and The Living Dead (Jim Burgett) – that evoke a dance party with nostalgic feeling (lyrically it’s as if time has stood still since the late 1950s). Fortunately: “He ain’t in no hurry // He’s got a lifetime to burn.”
The Devil Always Collects, produced by Brian Setzer and Julian Raymond, and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, is out now on CD and vinyl LP through Surfdog Records.
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