Album Reviews

Band: Rod Stern Album: Give It Up For Rod Stern Label: Tapestry Release Date: Out Now Format: CD

"My name is Rod Stern..... and I am the living sickness...."

Well... here's a guy who's been brought up the wrong way... the bad way. He's a character created by musician/poet Alan Macfeely. This 'live' CD captures the experience of the unique gig in 'The Victoria', London where Rods unique performance was unleashed.

He's a dark culmination of tales of sex, booze, drugs and down right bitterness towards the world in which he was brought into. ""I dropped from a whores pussy in the year of grace 1975, and I watched my teenage mother fall to a measly death"" Rod declares in 'I'm gonna fuck you over', which has to be the jaw dropper of the album. As you can tell, the mood of the record aint pretty.

Rod talks the talk over slow gentle finger picking, but sometimes happy steady paced picking and stomping like on 'Rod Stern Stomp' which brings Johnny Cash to mind. Ending with the smooth Elvis like song 'Chain of Hands' - he demands audience participation. It's a soothing way to end a great album."