For his 19th studio album in 40 years piano pop punk pioneer Joe Jackson dishes up eight sophisticated compositions informed by first generation punk rock circa ‘77 and Steely Dan. Contradictory mix? That’s Joe Jackson. Falling somewhere between Beat Crazy (1980) and Night And Day (1982) Joe Jackson’s latest finds the onetime student of London’s Royal Academy Of Music and former Playboy Club lounge pianist wearing multiple hats.
Referencing the splendid hyper activity of the punk infused angry young man period of his first three albums Look Sharp! (1979) I’m The Man (1979) and Beat Crazy (1980) Fool conversely revisits the smooth Duke Ellington inspired cool jazz sophistication of Jackson’s transitional mid period pop works Night And Day (1982) and Body And Soul (1984). Two halves of two separate sounding albums the inconsistently brilliant Fool would have been better served as one.
Rating 7/10
Star Rating 3/5
Hear the punk?
Hear the Steely Dan?
2019 Song Of The Day Club 3/52