While it made sense that a label inspired by the
punk ethic
the MC5 helped found put out
Wayne Kramer's first full-on solo album, in many ways
The Hard Stuff sticks out like a sore thumb from the usual
Epitaph fare -- namely, because it's not interested in toeing a particular sonic line.
Kramer's youthful obsession with
soul power mixed with rough and ready noise, tempered by his older and wiser years but not lacking for a section of energy, makes for a great full-on
rock & roll album. Certainly when one compares this work with the neutered slop his Detroit contemporary
Ted Nugent was churning out in the late '80s and into the '90s, there's little question who chose to rest on laurels and who decided to jump into things full on.
Kramer's choice of musicians to work with doesn't hurt -- all of
Claw Hammer back him up on a number of songs, including the great opening blast
"Crack in the Universe," while elsewhere
the Melvins,
Josh Freese,
Keith Morris,
Kim Shattuck, and even label boss
Brett Gurewitz sit in. In a fine nod to
Kramer's
soul roots,
Was (Not Was)'s
Sweet Pea Atkinson, along with bassist
James Jamerson, Jr., take a turn on the heavy groove
"Pillar of Fire." Kramer's lyrics take on the wreckage of America with compassion for those stuck at the bottom, but it's his wailing guitar work, direct and powerful, that demonstrates best of all how you can't keep a good man down. Hearing the perversely beautiful sludge/slow jam of
"Junkie Romance," Kramer demolishing the heroin chic image with the eye of a weathered survivor armed with wit and compassion, or the
spoken word portrayal of an argument turned violent in
"Incident on Stock Island" shows how his gifts are in full swing. Fine bonus: the untitled bonus track paying tribute to
Kramer's personal hero
Charles Bukowski. ~ Ned Raggett
![Mommy's Little Monster [40th Anniversary] [White Vinyl] [Barnes & Noble Exclusive]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0888072543423_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Mommy's Little Monster [40th Anniversary] [White Vinyl] [Barnes & Noble Exclusive]")
![Without a Net [3 LP Bluejay Color Vinyl] [Barnes & Noble Exclusive]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0081227819644_p0_v4_s90x140.jpg "Without a Net [3 LP Bluejay Color Vinyl] [Barnes & Noble Exclusive]")
![Jagged Little Pill [Red Vinyl]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0081227879303_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Jagged Little Pill [Red Vinyl]")
![Surfacing [B&N Exclusive] [Bone Color Vinyl]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0196588012310_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Surfacing [B&N Exclusive] [Bone Color Vinyl]")
![I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love [LP]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0093624926184_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love [LP]")
![Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? [25th Anniversary Edition]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0602567505778_p0_v3_s90x140.jpg "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? [25th Anniversary Edition]")
![Strange Trails [LP]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0766930016114_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Strange Trails [LP]")
