Swifton

SWIFTON

            (Plush Machine)

37-38 years after Cincinnati’s Libertines’—pre-English one!—two stunning albums (stream Greatest Hits!), incredible songwriter/guitarist/singer Walter Hodge shockingly remerged in 2023 with this modern outfit’s superb Hit Me. Voila, here’s already a follow-up as worthy. Hodge remains among America’s sly-ist lyricists/commentators, his vignettes still paired to pulsing, bracing indie rock with ringing roots-rock-tinted licks and gritty post-punk edge—well-backed nowadays by last-lineup Libertines drummer Todd Witt (Wolverton Bros.), Mike Huegen (Stiff Kittens) and William Weber (Chrome Cranks). “Secret Star” is indicative, a sneeringly hilarious takedown of workplace tinpot dictators. (“You convince yourself you’re better than me.”) Similarly, the dark death of “Cold” and forlorn, pained regrets of “Christmas Again” are classic Hodge-ian slices of lamented lost connection (he’s lost nothing since Libertines’ “Bad Memories Burn,” “Reunion” and “Her”), and the closing “Swifton” is a withering window into a “hellish” smallminded small town to a kid despising his dysfunctional home and cruel classmates. (“Can’t wait to disappear.”) You want music this great—and involving. (plushmachine.net)

Jack Rabid - Big Takeover

Hal-eh-f-ing-lu-yah!  It’s been 35 years(!) since Cincinnati’s incredible Walter Hodge released a new set of songs, since 1988’s sophomore Tilt-a-Whirl closed one of the greatest bands of that decade, The Libertines (U.S.; predating the popular U.K. one)—hint: check out their Greatest Hits on YouTube!  It’s to die for.  Regrettably the Libs’ 2007-2010 reunion produced crackling, thrilling gigs (I saw two), but no releases.  But here, with that latter lineup’s drummer Todd Witt (Wolverton Bros.), PM proves a wonderful follow-on, however uniquely belated.  It’s unmistakably Hodge’s classic style/vocals, and stunningly realistic slice-of-analysis lyrics—of how relationships fray, shatter, then get pored over in bittersweet regret.  And though bassist Randy Cheek and Tilt second/lead guitarist Jimmy Davidson aren’t here/not forgotten, their counterparts Mike Huegen (Stiff Kittens) and William Weber (Chrome Cranks) have the experience/feel/chops to bring the weird rootsy/busy/occasionally twangy licks to Hodge’s boundless bag of hooks and confessional voice.  They’re mostly mid-tempo—more “Too Bad It’s Raining” then “Her,” say—but this timeless indie rock with busy licks (Lloyd/Quine-like on “Linger”), like a R.E.M “Little America”/Long Ryders matchup, and the digging-in band push the fabulous Hodge to remembered heights on their biggest standouts: the quickest tempo runs “Golden Rod” and “Debbie (Everything)”—this era’s “Reunion!”—plus the prime of unreleased old song carry-overs, “Valentine’s Day, make the well-titled, engaging Hit Me 2023’s most convincing surprise.  (plushmachine.net)

Jack Rabid - Big Takeover