Del-Lords second LP gets ‘80s production gloss

After three albums playing rhythm guitar for the Dictators, Scott Kempner put together the Del-Lords in 1982. Their 1984 debut, Frontier Days, was a bracing shot of straight rock ‘n’ roll in a year that found such music mostly being steamrolled by MTV. This 1986 follow-up brought Neil Geraldo on board as producer, and he brought some of the ‘80s sounds he created on albums with his wife, Pat Benetar. The guitar harmonics, big drums and backing vocals are slicker and more badly dated than Lou Whitney’s work on the debut album, but the band’s rock ‘n’ roll heart is still plain to hear.

As on the debut Kempner had more on his mind than cars and girls, though he considered those as well, and he seems to be more up-beat than on the previous album. The opening “Heaven” declares belief in the here and now, and the thumping “St. Jake” (the only track with guitarist Eric Ambel singing lead vocal) provides a rousing ode to the magical powers of radio. Kempner celebrates the basic elements of rock ‘n’ roll, bashing out steroidal rockabilly on “True Love” and galloping rock on “Everlovin’.” When he drops into his lower register, such as with “Love Lies Dying,” he sounds a bit like Iggy Pop.

The social context of Johnny Comes Marching Home includes the churning instrumental “Drug Deal” and the distraught “Against My Will” suggests all was not morning-in-America in 1986. American Beat’s CD reissue adds hilarious new liner notes from Kempner, and five bonus tracks that include three new titles (including the Jan & Dean styled “Some Summer” and creepy, country-tinged “Obsessed with Mary”) and alternate takes of “St. Jake” and “True Love.” Geraldo’s production is louder and punchier than Whitney’s work on the debut, but the ‘80s studio sound detracts from an otherwise excellent set of songs and performances. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

Scott Kempner’s MySpace Page