November 20th, 1991. Your humble scribe and MV’s King of the Bargain Bin, Donnie, were at Birmingham NEC. Topping the three-band bill were Skid Row. We were obsessed with them at that point.
Which is why “Gargoyle Of The Garden State”, the first solo album from Rachel Bolan, their bassist for 40 years, is enough to give me a warm glow before a note has even been played.
You might have an idea what it is going to sound like based on the fact that, on that night 35 years back, he played a version of “Psycho Therapy” during his bass spot. He was always the punk cool one.
“Anything But You” is exactly the sort of punky sleaze you associate with Bolan, but it is exceptionally well done. The power-pop harmonies top it off, too.
There are plenty of special guests here, as befits a rock ’n’ roll lifer. Game knows game — I’m down with the kids, me — and Danko Jones is the first, with the insanely catchy exercise in brilliant simplicity that is “At War With Myself.”
Bolan has a gift for this. “Memory” has that Jersey sound: working-class, blue-collar rock ’n’ roll, full of grit, heart and no little swagger.
Like an episode of “Frasier” where the cast of “Cheers” would appear to great acclaim, other members of Skid Row turn up too. The first is “Snake” Sabo for the superb mid-paced rocker “See You On The Other Side”, and although not a member of Skid Row, Steve Conte is rock royalty and sprinkles his cool all over the ballad “Bridges”.
The A-listers keep coming. Nuno Bettencourt brings a proper strut to “Jet Black Universe”. And look, even if you didn’t need me to tell you his solo is from the top drawer, it absolutely is.
Singers do not get much better than Corey Taylor, either, and he announces himself on “Big Stick”, which appears to suggest we should smash the shit out of fascists. Cool. I’m down. Let’s go.
“Pretty Hell” could not sound more like Hanoi Rocks if it tried, which is presumably the point. It is magnificent too.
Skid Row’s Scotti Hill appears for a rather unexpected diversion: Oasis’ “Rock ’N’ Roll Star”, which they pimp up quite brilliantly. I am a genuine Oasis fan, in fairness, and this is superb.
“Devil In The White” is one of the few without a guest, but it does describe someone as a “master debater”, so gets bonus points.
The bass line on “Walk Away” could anchor ships, and former Black Star Riders man Damon Johnson rips out a solo from somewhere deep and dangerous.
“Gargoyle Of The Garden State” is the story of an outsider from New Jersey who took on the world and still wants to kick against the pricks.
As punk as you like, yet still rooted in that distinct Jersey sound — albeit without talking of turnpikes like Springsteen.
It would be hard to imagine that when Bolan thought this up, he imagined it would be this good. Because it is not just good. It is truly fantastic.
RATING: 9/10
