Jeff Beck - Loud Hailer

Jeff Beck
Loud Hailer
2016
Spotify

When Eric Clapton released his newest record the results were not great. Thus when you hear another aged rocker is taking the axe out for another spin around the track expectations can't be all that high. However on Loud Hailer Beck is able to create a record that is totally modern while never giving in to some kind of pop sensibility. His guitar rips from moment one and never lets up. The record is almost wholly a political statement which for someone in the 70s to still be railing against is something to behold. Nothing is done clean on the album, Beck's sound is garbled, confusing and often off putting but it is done so with reason trying to portray the political disaffectedness of American's today. Where a song like "Scared for the Children" is kind of sweet and light the rest of the record buzzes and buzzes putting a huge weight on the listener. Rosie Bones does the singing and lyric writing on the record and though her voice is interesting at times it seems to mechanical for Beck. His guitar will wail at the sky while her voice is sort of just there along for the ride. There is also the issue of the lyrics. While they do have a strong sense of themselves and their place, they are childish to say the least. "You think that I’m mad but I know to my core/ I’ve read the official truth but there’s a truth worth fighting for.” is from "The Ballad of the Jersey Wives" the 9/11 conspiracy theory song and it just never really delivers the message it wants to with any kind of thrust.

Much of the political discord on the record feels like it would be more appropriate for 2005 rather than 2015, but the spirit behind the message is one you should embrace. Lyrics aside there are times on Loud Hailer where the music absolutely rips. "Right Now" is an example of one of those songs that you may or may not agree with the message but we can all agree that it is an all out shred-fest that is a joy to listen to. If your head is not banging by the second solo you may not have a soul. What I really like about the record though is how dedicated Beck is to not making this just another blues record, or just another old man strumming away on his guitar. There is a directive for the album and to his credit Beck embraces it, and runs with it. That dedication for a man his age really is awesome. What you find with this album are moments of real transcendence as well as comically bad attempts at social critique. "Shrine" is one of those songs that just soars and closes out the album leaving you with a really great track that you can go back to again and again. Loud Hailer is not going to set the world on fire, nor be the place where protesters hang their hat, but it is a good record from someone really going out there and trying something. For that reason alone you should give it a spin.

7.5 out of 10