After leaving
Mott the Hoople in early 1975,
Ian Hunter quickly threw himself into recording this eponymous solo debut. Not surprisingly, it contains a lot of the
glam rock charm of
Hunter's old group:
"The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nothing But the Truth" and
"I Get So Excited" are fist-pumping tunes that combine punchy
hard rock riffs with intelligent lyrics in a manner similar to
Mott the Hoople's finest moments. However,
Ian Hunter pulls off this grandiose sound without the overtly ornate production that defined the final
Mott the Hoople albums because
Mick Ronson's cleverly crafted arrangements manage to create a big wall of sound without utilizing a huge amount of instruments or overdubs. As a result,
Ian Hunter's lyrics shine through in each song and show off his totally personalized mixture of attitude and intelligence: the legendary and oft-covered
"Once Bitten, Twice Shy" is a cheeky, clever exploration of
rock & roll's ability to corrupt the innocent, and
"Boy" is a critique of a rocker who has allowed his pretensions to overpower his heart (many say this tune was aimed at fellow star and onetime
Mott the Hoople producer
David Bowie). Another highlight is
"It Ain't Easy When You Fall," a moving tribute to a fallen friend that gracefully builds from delicate verses into a soaring chorus. The end result is a memorable debut album that gives listeners their
hard rock fix and manages to engage their brains at the same time. Anyone interested in the finest moments of 1970s
glam rock should give this classic a spin. [A Japanese version included bonus tracks.] ~ Donald A. Guarisco
