Ian McLagan: United States (Yep Roc/Southbound)

 |   |  1 min read

Ian McLagan: He's Not For You
Ian McLagan: United States (Yep Roc/Southbound)

Many years ago it was my great pleasure to spend a bit of time with keyboard player Ian McLagan when he was in Auckland playing with an artist whom I have forgotten.

McLagan -- who was, in the words of Noel Gallagher, jammy enough to be in two great bands (the Small Faces and Faces) -- was very amusing and well-balanced and happily took time out to hammer the lobby piano to the amusement of passers-by.

He's helmed his own Bump Band for a long time now and while we're going to agree they are never going to be contenders, there's always something endearing about them and McLagan's playing is always worth hearing.

On this album -- his first in about five years -- his voice is cracked and live-in, but in a good way. It brings a credible touch and personality to the mostly mid-tempo songs, even on what in other hands might be throwaways (Pure Gold).

There's also some homegrown philosophy here (the easy rolling but pointed Don't Say Nothing), some downhome slightly funky country blues from this longtime Texas-resident (I'm Your Baby Now) and an understated country ballad on He's Not For You.

But where this really hits home is at the midpoint on the emotionally hurt piano ballad Mean Old World, the organ-driven Love Letter, the more strident Who Says It Ain't Love (which vaguely recalls the Faces with a laddish Rod Stewart) and the thoughtful soul of Shalalala.

A good band, a great keyboard player, songs which speak of simple truths and some lowkey unpolished gems scattered about.

Nope, not going to change the course of popular music or even gain much critical attention, but Ian McLagan does nothing to disgrace himself or the legacy he created. 

Share It

Your Comments

Steve Neate - Jun 23, 2014

Was it with Billy Bragg? GRAHAM REPLIES: I believe it was, now that you mention it. Memory fades!

post a comment

More from this section   Music at Elsewhere articles index

Snowpoet: Wait For Me (Edition Records/digital outlets)

Snowpoet: Wait For Me (Edition Records/digital outlets)

Neatly uncategorisable, this album fronted by the British duo of singer-songwriter Lauren Kinsella and producer/keyboardist Chris Hyson have found a place between folk-pop, electronica and spoken... > Read more

Ruthie Foster: The Truth According to Ruthie Foster (Shock)

Ruthie Foster: The Truth According to Ruthie Foster (Shock)

This impressive soul-blues singer makes a guest appearance on the new Eric Bibb album Get On Board -- and Bibb contributes two tracks to this diverse collection of material which roams confidently... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

Marvin Gaye: Trouble Man (1972)

Marvin Gaye: Trouble Man (1972)

In the sales charts, music history throws up some wonderful anomalies, like the Beatles' innovative double A-side single Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever being kept off the top spot by... > Read more

Bangkok, Thailand: To shop, or not. That is the question

Bangkok, Thailand: To shop, or not. That is the question

The day after I returned home from Thailand I went to a well-known menswear store on Queen St to buy a tie, not something I can recall having done before. But if a man has had a handsome black silk... > Read more