CD Reviews

P.F. Sloan

Sailover | Hightone

By BRETT MILANO | July 5, 2006

3.0 Stars

P. F. Sloan

P.F. Sloan sings about as well as Jimmy Webb — which explains why both are known mainly for the late-’60s hits they wrote for others. But Sloan’s a more mysterious figure, having been MIA for the better part of three decades. This disc is a confident return to action, recasting him as an alt-country forefather. Producer Jon Tiven gives it the same ragged, roadhouse sound he brought to Frank Black’s last two albums, and Sloan’s raspy voice sounds at least as comfortable in this setting as Black’s did. The two greatest-hits remakes are less retreads than true updates: “Where Were You When I Needed You” (originally a Grass Roots folk-rocker) takes on some E Street–style grandeur, and “Eve of Destruction” (with Black trading verses) sounds as it should after 40 years, more weary than angry. Although Sloan also wrote some bubblegummy tunes (“Secret Agent Man”), his new ones are more in the “Eve” vein, with long streams of words and a distinct philosophical bent, brooding equally on the personal and the political. Yet he’s never lost his AM-radio ears, knowing that deep thoughts always go better with good hooks. For once an all-star back-up cast (Lucinda Williams, E Streeter Gary Tallent, Cheap Trick’s Tom Petersson, ex-Bostonian drummer Tom Hambridge) is put to good use, treating the songs like the hits they should’ve been.

Related: On the racks, Hello, we’re Johnny Cash, Frank Black, More

Topics: CD Reviews , Lucinda Williams, Cheap Trick, Frank Black, More

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