Hunter, Ian: Defiance Part 1

It’s easy to be cynical about these kind of releases. You know, the ones where an old rocker surrounds himself with big names to catch your attention and then sits astride their performances defiantly. There have been many of them over the years and here comes Mott The Hoople and solo artist Ian Hunter to convince us that he still means it man. What these albums usually lack is killer songs, authentic performances and any real heart and soul… and then there are the exceptions that prove the rule.

Genuinely, the names that are assembled here are legendary, from Robert Trujillo and Slash - from two of the biggest rock and metal acts of the last 40 years no less - to Mike Campbell and Ringo Starr - from two of the biggest acts from, well forever - the cast list is stellar, but you know what? It doesn’t matter a jot because this album stands on its songs and the emotion behind them. Hunter himself isn’t the singer he once was, but in many ways he’s even better, his storied voice adding a world weariness to the sentiments of lives lived, and that those lives are still being lived. The whole album feels autobiographical, giving it a vitality and importance that so few could hope to capture. The mood isn’t raucous, but by hell this album feels dangerous in more convincing ways, Hunter baring his soul through the words and the emotions that hang from them. For a long traveled musician in his 70s with nothing to prove to be this open, this laid bare and this honest actually feels like a privilege to be allowed to listen to.

From the slow, determined sway of “No Hard Feelings� featuring Jeff Beck (this may well be his final recorded performance) and Johnny Depp, to the classy rock n’ soul of “Don’t Tread On Me� with Todd Rundgren, the atmosphere is so genuine and the music so unpretentious that you almost feel like you’re hanging with the band as they knock them out for the four thousandth time for the pure love of it. With “Guernica� a languid howl that captures your heart as Joe Elliott and Mike Campbell are swept along for the ride, to the straight up simple good time rock n roll of “This Is What I’m Here For� (Taylor Hawkins (the album was started back in 2020 and his inclusion here reminds us of the fragility of life itself), Joe Elliott and Waddy Wachtel) not one single second feels anything less than utterly vital - and I haven’t even mentioned the triumphant “Bed Of Roses� (Starr and Campbell), which is absolutely glorious.

I was tempted to not even name any of the ‘names’ on this album and allow the songs to do exactly what they do here - speak for themselves. However, there’s no denying that the cast list is quite incredible, and if that helps this album gain just a little more traction, then I’ll shout the involvement of Duff McKagen and Brad Whitford and all of the other superstars from the rooftops. Never has an album been better named than this one, Defiance Part 1 being an almost contemptuous swipe at maybe the world at large, but certainly those who write off songwriters like Ian Hunter. Magnificent.

Track Listing
1. Defiance
Dane Clark: Drums Robert Trujillo: Bass Slash: Electric, Rhythm and Lead Guitars  Dennis Dibrizzi: Background Vocal  Andy York: Background Vocal Ian Hunter: Electric Guitar

2. Bed Of Roses
Ringo Starr: Drums Tony Shanahan: Bass Mike Campbell: Acoustic and Electric Rhythm Guitars, Slide Guitar, Mandolin  Andy Burton: Organ Rich Pagano: Tambourine  Andy York: Background Vocals  Ian Hunter: Piano

3. No Hard Feelings
Dane Clark: Drums and Percussion Johnny Depp: Acoustic and Electric Rhythm Guitars, Slide Guitar, Background Vocals Jeff Beck: Lead Guitar Andy York: Electric Guitar, Bass Ian Hunter: Piano 

4. Pavlov’s Dog
Eric Kretz: Drums Dean DeLeo: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar Robert DeLeo: Bass Dennis Dibrizzi: Background Vocal Andy York: Background Vocal, Maracas  Ian Hunter: Piano

5. Don’t Tread On Me
Rich Pagano: Drums, Congas, Percussion  Todd Rundgren: Rhythm and Lead Electric Guitars, Background Vocals Andy Burton: Organ Andy York: Bass Ian Hunter: Piano

6. Guernica
Dane Clark: Drums and Percussion Mike Campbell: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars  Joe Elliott: Background Vocals Andy Burton: Harmonium Andy York: Bass, Baritone Guitar, Background Vocal  Ian Hunter: Piano 

7. I Hate Hate
Dane Clark: Drums Andy Burton: Keyboards Dennis Dibrizzi: Background Vocals  Andy York: Baritone Guitar, Tambourine, Background Vocals Ian Hunter: Piano

8. Angel
Taylor Hawkins: Drums, Electric Guitars, Electric Piano, Background Vocals  Duff McKagan: Bass Brad Whitford: Slide Guitar Waddy Wachtel: 12-String Acoustic Guitar, Lead Electric Guitars Ian Hunter: Piano

9. Kiss N’Make Up
Taylor Hawkins: Drums Billy Bob Thornton: Percussion, Lead and Backup Vocals  Billy F Gibbons: Electric, Rhythm and Lead Guitars  J.D. Andrew: Bass James Mastro: Electric Guitar Rich Pagano: Congas Andy Burton: Keyboards, Vibes

10. This Is What I’m Here For
Taylor Hawkins: Drums Waddy Wachtel: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars  Joe Elliott: Background Vocals Paul Page: Bass Andy Burton: Organ Andy York: Baritone Guitar Ian Hunter: Piano

11. I Hate Hate (Alternate Version)
Dane Clark: Drums Jeff Tweedy: Electric Guitars and Bass  Andy Burton: Keyboard Dennis Dibrizzi: Background Vocal Andy Burton: Organ Andy York: Tambourine and Background Vocal  Ian Hunter: Piano

Added: April 25th 2023
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Ian Hunter online
Hits: 1729
Language: english

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