There are more artists who bear the name Jim Jones, but since I saw British garage rock outfit The Jim Jones Revue live about 15 years ago, there’s only one that counts for me. Great news that this band finally gets a worthy successor: here are the Jim Jones All Stars, featuring singer/guitarist Jim Jones, bassist Gavin Jay and keyboardist Elliot Mortimer (from The Jim Jones Revue), drummer Chris Ellul (The Heavy), guitarist Carlton Mounsher (The Swamps), and a full horn section consisting of Stuart Dace, Tom Hodges and Chuchi Malapersona. Their debut album Ain’t No Peril, recorded in Memphis, is versatile and vibrant, raw and raucous, groovy and greasy, cool and characterful, dirty and dangerous, exciting and epic. At first listen it’s reminiscent of The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, but they take the musical madness even further, transcending labels such as rock ‘n’ roll or rhythm ‘n’ blues by mixing garage punk blues with influences as diverse as funk, jazz, country and gospel. The 12 songs here, including 3 instrumentals, sound as inspired and urgent as can be. Breathtaking.
Ain’t No Peril, produced by John Getze, is out now digitally, on CD and blood red vinyl LP through Ako-Lite Records. Cover art by Paul Pope.
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