It has been a long time since I've heard a pretty singer-songwriter record reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison's less folk-based records. Behind these legends there lies a giant gap of singer-songwriters varying from reasonably known to cult artists. Jesse Malin's third solo record, Glitter in the Gutter, is a good record for all who like this kind of music to chill out too.
On its own Glitter in the Gutter is an extremely solid record. What makes it a fantastic album are the friends Malin brings along to help him out: Joshua Homme (Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age), Jakob Dylan (son of), Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters), Ryan Adams, and The Boss himself, Mister Bruce Springsteen - does this sir need any clarification at all? They all add their own specialty to the album, which makes for a varied album.
Malin's vocals never bore, for his voice is gritty, powerful and moving, often all of that at once. Glitter in the Gutter reaches its highs in the duets with Springsteen and Dylan. "Broken Radio," one of the few ballads on the album, is right in Springsteen's mighty voice and is incredible due to its purity and power. "Black Haired Girl" has this traditional singer-songwriter vibe to it.
Away with complex instrumentals that can possibly destroy the song! They only serve to support Malin's voice and to give the songs identity. What I said might appear to contradict itself, but I did not mean to insinuate that they were rushed and simple, far from. Sure, Adams, Homme, and Shiflett have probably played more intense, powerful, and complex riffs, but doing so on Glitter in the Gutter would have destroyed the purity and power of the album. What they did do, however, was to give the songs identity, making them even more powerful.
As you might have noticed, I'm a big fan of the genre. That said, I became a big fan of Jesse Malin after listening to Glitter in the Gutter.
