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Joe Jackson Band
official Web site
articles/contests
Track List:
1. Steppin' Out
2. One More Time
3. Take It Like A Man
4. Awkward Age
5. Look Sharp!
6. Down To London
7. Beat Crazy
8. Fools In Love
9. Love At First Light
10. Fairy Dust
11. Sunday Papers
12. Don't Wanna Be Like That
13. Got The Time
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Joe Jackson Band – Afterlife
(Rykodisc)
By Greg Prato
Speaking as a major Joe Jackson fan, the show I witnessed during last year's reunion tour (featuring his stellar, original backing band — guitarist Gary Sanford, bassist Graham Maby, and drummer Dave Houghton) was easily one of the best I've attended in recent memory. The band sounded great, assembled a strong set list, and had a receptive audience backing them. So I must not have been the only Joe Jackson fan hoping that a DVD of the tour would be issued after its completion. Instead, we get the umpteenth Joe Jackson live album.
After getting over the initial disappointment, Afterlife is actually a fine live set, balancing classics with tracks from the album the band was supporting, 2003's Volume 4 (as well as a few surprises, including an album opening, piano-voice rendition of "Steppin' Out"). But Afterlife is aimed primarily at hardcore fans who snapped up the early pressings of Volume 4 (which included a limited edition bonus live disc). This is obvious because quite a few of the Joe Jackson Band's best known tracks are absent here, particularly "It's Different For Girls," "I'm The Man," and the group's biggest hit, "Is She Really Going Out With Him?," all of which were featured on the aforementioned earlier release. But the tracks that did make the cut are dandies, especially the slinky ska of "Beat Crazy" (which features Maby doing a fine job trading off vocal lines with Jackson), the rubbery funk of "Look Sharp!," and the breakneck album closer, "Got The Time."
It's interesting to hear how the new material holds up not only in the live setting, but also when paired with the aforementioned classics. The scoop is that some of the tracks do hold their own quite well, including the piano led "Take It Like A Man" and the uptempo "Fairy Dust," while others don't (especially the goofy "Awkward Age" and the snoozefest "Love At First Light"). Additionally, several other tracks from Volume 4 that were performed on tour — such as "Little Bit Stupid" and "Dirty Martini" — would have been welcomed additions, as well as more selections from 1980's underrated Beat Crazy. Even those upset by the omission of certain classics can't deny how great the band sounds: Joe Jackson's voice is better than ever, and it really does not sound like the quartet hadn't played a show together in nearly 22 (!) years. Word on the street is that this will be the last hurrah for the original Joe Jackson Band. Upon hearing Afterlife, most fans will be begging the chaps to reconsider.
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