CD REVIEW: JON STEVENS – Starlight

Shane | 14 August 2017 | 1 Reply

CD REVIEW: JON STEVENS – Starlight
Liberation Music
March 2017
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
8/10

Jon Stevens has a remarkable knack for being instantly recognisable in song, above and beyond that rich, honeyed velvet voice of his.

It’s something to do with the soul he injects into everything he does – what Keef Richards might call the ‘roll’ in rock n’ roll. Stevens himself refers to it as ‘the passion’ he invests, which is an equally valid angle to look at it from.

Starlight is his second solo album since being unceremoniously dumped from the rock band he formed with Westfield rich kid David Lowy, The Dead Daisies, and his tenth overall.

While the Daisies have recruited a line-up of mostly American superstar sidemen, they remain one trick ponies, and without Stevens’ texture, theirs is a one-dimensional (though undeniably enjoyable, if one dimension is enough for you) sound.

Not so for Stevens: he imbues Starlight with passion and soul, moving effortlessly from balls out rock (Hold On, with both producer Dave Stewart and Richie Sambora’s guitars riding the song hard), to gospel (Oh Lord, with its wailing harmonica) and beyond.

It’s all about the soul. It’s there in the moving Starlight, Stevens singing about the tragedy of suicide; the swing and sway of rocker Devil In My Heart (with guitars from Sambora’s girlfriend Orianthi); the effortless ‘70s breeze of Something Bout You, Stevens’ powerful, emotive vocals lifting this duet with Vanessa Amorosi above ho hum level; and in the deceptively simple drum track on One Way Street, courtesy of none other than Ringo Bloody Starr!

Stewart’s production is impeccable throughout, and the diversity and feeling on this album make for a far more well-rounded and satisfying meal than anything his former band has cooked up since he left.