The closing song Life on this excellent release is a philosophical reflection of a wise elder statesman. It's advice about taking life easier since fear, stress, age, and holding grudges can kill you so learn to laugh at life. Regardless of your status in life we are all just trying to get by. He suggests not to take social media seriously and this seems to be all the stupid stuff. There are serious things in life but these are not it. The song started out as a strong piano melody but at first Ian didn't realize how well it closes out his live shows; this sound advice is related before a segue into a signature rendition of All The Young Dudes.
Less obvious than Ships but Ian is thinking of his father who died of a stroke and how Hunter tended to take his work home with him. He is describing how doing something that you love can also become a job with all the responsibilities. Hunter also writes to his kids to do your work but then come home, relax, and be happy.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
Life
(Ian Hunter)
Easy come, easy go... just another rock 'n' roll show, hope you had a great night
When you get home and climb in to bed
Just remember what I said
'n laugh because it's only life
Fear knows how to kill ya
stress knows how to kill ya, take a little sound advice
We're all gettin' older
Let some of those chips fall off your shoulders
And laugh because it's only life
Laugh because it's only, laugh because it's only
Laugh because it's only life
When you're down remember that
It's all water off a duck's back
And laugh because it's only life
Some of us are born rich
Some of us ain't got a tent to pitch, most of us just get by
You gotta learn to live with it, you gotta learn to smile a little bit
And laugh because it's only life
I ain't talkin' 'bout the serious stuff, just talking 'bout the stupid stuff
The things you do when you get high
Did you blow it on MySpace, did you Twitter when you were outta your face
Well laugh because it's only life
Laugh because it's only - laugh because it's only - laugh because it's only life
When you're down remember that - it's all water off a duck's back
And laugh because it's only life
I hope you had a good time - hope your time was as good as mine, my you're such a beautiful sight
I can't believe after all of these years, you're still here and I'm still here
Laugh because it's only life
Laugh because it's only - laugh because it's only - laugh because it's only life
When you're down remember that - it's all water off a duck's back
And laugh because it's only life
Ian Hunter and The Rant Band CD: "When I'm President"
Sleeve and track listing
Proper Records PRPCD104
- Comfortable (Flyin' Scotsman)
- Fatally Flawed
- When I'm President
- What For
- Black Tears
- Saint
- Just The Way You Look Tonight
- Wild Bunch
- Ta Shunka Witco (Crazy Horse)
- I Don't Know What You Want
- Life
Review
Now this is more like it. Ian's new album is a welcome return to form. The good news is this album is chock full of rockers. The bad news is... well, there isn't any. In the fullness of time this album could well turn out to be his best in many years.
The run of good albums that started with Rant and continued with Shrunken Heads continues here. Guitars are to the full, with strong solos from both James Mastro and Mark Bosch. Ian's singing is strong without ever sounding strained and the rhythm section is as tight as a duck's whatsit.
What helps of course is that the songs are top-notch. Comfortable (Flyin' Scotsman) sets the tone, being a powerful full-paced rocker with guitars and subtle use of saxes. The title track is also strong, a mid-paced rocker with a repeated keyboard refrain reminiscent of The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again.
What For is another rocker with strong guitars and piano reminiscent of early Mott The Hoople. Ian hasn't rocked like this for years, and it sounds like he's having fun. Black Tears is slower but powerful and moody with a guitar solo that reminds me of the much-missed Mick Ronson. Saint is another up-tempo rocker, this time it reminds me at times of Twisted Steel. Wild Bunch meanwhile is a rocker that reminds me of The Faces.
There are so many good songs on this album it is hard to pick out highlights. What's interesting is that this album is credited to Ian Hunter And The Rant Band. This is much more of a band album than most of Ian's recent albums, and it is much the better for it.
What more can I say? It's brilliant... 'nuff said,
| Life | 4:58 | Originally issued on When I'm President. |
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