The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – Melody Maker: Now I Got Worry [Review] (PRESS, UK)

“Now I Got Worry” is a messy, sprawling, unruly, chaotic and simultaneously tighter than the Devil’s corkscrew penis wedged up God’s lily-white ass. Everything’s under control, everything’s allowed room to breathe. Not a note, not a beat is wasted. There are continual explosions of noise; drums roll, and guitars scrape in glorious monody. Songs blister and bubble over with attitude, poise, arrogance.

Vocals are drawled out and spat like the man’s burnin’ with holy fire, like he’s on a mission from Lucifer. Vowel sounds are more feral than guttural. Bottlenecks rule.

What sort of man would invite Rufus “Funky Chicken” Thomas to bark/crow on his album just so he can out-funk him? What sort of man would cover Dub Narcotic’s anarchic, On-U dubwise anthem “F*** Shit Up” and distort is even further? What sort of man utilises kick-ass Sixties piano, clarinet, every hoary ol’ rock’n’roll riff and move in the book can make them sound fresh, exciting, more NOW! than 5,000 samplers?

Why, Mr Blues Explosion, Mr Jon Spencer himself, of course. Whether he croons to ya or chips ya, you gotta love him. For he is the BLUES Explosion!

“Now I Got Worry” is a replica, sure. But it’s so damn EXCITING!” Everett True / Melody Maker (September 28, 1996)