Izzy Stradlin: Life On His Own 01/14/2011
Izzy Stradlin & The Ju Ju Hounds
By Brendan Harte Gilsenan
Izzy’s first release after fleeing the spotlight in 1991 was Izzy Stradlin & the Ju Ju Hounds, released the following year. Slash may have brought the Zeppelin influence to GNR, but Izzy’s solo debut is saturated with the sounds of the Stones. From beginning to end, this album feels at home with the greats of 70’s rock ‘n’ roll, without sounded as dated.
What makes Izzy’s music so instantly enjoyable is the ease in which all aspects come together; his rough vocals, the bluesy rock riffs, the organic structure of the songs. Nothing is overly ambitious. It’s just really great straight forward rock ‘n’ roll.
Single, “Shuffle It All”, opens with a calming bass line that really stands out as a special moment on the album. Its hook of “Hoo hoo hoo! Shuffle It All!” is one of the most easily recalled lines on Ju Ju Hounds.
An appropriate appearance by Rolling Stones, and former Faces, guitarist Ron Wood comes towards the end of the album. A cover (or simply rerecording?) of “Take A Look At The Guy” off of Wood’s 1974 solo album, I’ve Got My Own Album To Do, features the veteran taking over vocal duties and playing lead guitar.
Izzy touches on punk on a couple tracks (“Bucket O’ Trouble”), and at times slows things down. “Come On Now Inside” features brilliant female backing vocals that really make it shine as the album’s closer.
Throughout Ju Ju Hounds, Izzy has you tapping your foot, feeling good (“Somebody Knockin’), and sympathetically sentimental (“How Will It Go”).
Often, members from big name bands go on to do their solo thing, and the results pale in comparison. Yet, although Izzy Stradlin’s first album away from Guns N’ Roses isn’t as ‘f-ck you’ in-your-face as his music with the band, the songwriting and performance on this album is of the same quality.
Next up is 1998’s 117°. We’ll take a look at the album, and why it took Izzy six years to follow up his debut.
Follow Izzy Stradlin: Life On His Own here.
1. Somebody Knockin’
2. Pressure Drop
3. Time Gone By
4. Shuffle It All
5. Bucket O’ Trouble
6. Train Tracks
7. How Will It Go
8. Cuttin’ The Rug
9. Take A Look At The Guy (featuring Ron Wood)
10. Come On Now Inside
By Brendan Harte Gilsenan
Izzy’s first release after fleeing the spotlight in 1991 was Izzy Stradlin & the Ju Ju Hounds, released the following year. Slash may have brought the Zeppelin influence to GNR, but Izzy’s solo debut is saturated with the sounds of the Stones. From beginning to end, this album feels at home with the greats of 70’s rock ‘n’ roll, without sounded as dated.
What makes Izzy’s music so instantly enjoyable is the ease in which all aspects come together; his rough vocals, the bluesy rock riffs, the organic structure of the songs. Nothing is overly ambitious. It’s just really great straight forward rock ‘n’ roll.
Single, “Shuffle It All”, opens with a calming bass line that really stands out as a special moment on the album. Its hook of “Hoo hoo hoo! Shuffle It All!” is one of the most easily recalled lines on Ju Ju Hounds.
An appropriate appearance by Rolling Stones, and former Faces, guitarist Ron Wood comes towards the end of the album. A cover (or simply rerecording?) of “Take A Look At The Guy” off of Wood’s 1974 solo album, I’ve Got My Own Album To Do, features the veteran taking over vocal duties and playing lead guitar.
Izzy touches on punk on a couple tracks (“Bucket O’ Trouble”), and at times slows things down. “Come On Now Inside” features brilliant female backing vocals that really make it shine as the album’s closer.
Throughout Ju Ju Hounds, Izzy has you tapping your foot, feeling good (“Somebody Knockin’), and sympathetically sentimental (“How Will It Go”).
Often, members from big name bands go on to do their solo thing, and the results pale in comparison. Yet, although Izzy Stradlin’s first album away from Guns N’ Roses isn’t as ‘f-ck you’ in-your-face as his music with the band, the songwriting and performance on this album is of the same quality.
Next up is 1998’s 117°. We’ll take a look at the album, and why it took Izzy six years to follow up his debut.
Follow Izzy Stradlin: Life On His Own here.
1. Somebody Knockin’
2. Pressure Drop
3. Time Gone By
4. Shuffle It All
5. Bucket O’ Trouble
6. Train Tracks
7. How Will It Go
8. Cuttin’ The Rug
9. Take A Look At The Guy (featuring Ron Wood)
10. Come On Now Inside
