American Babylon is an album by Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers, released in 1995.[2][3] Grushecky supported the album by playing some East Coast and Midwest shows with Bruce Springsteen, his producer.[4][5]
| American Babylon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Label | Razor & Tie[1] | |||
| Producer | Bruce Springsteen | |||
| Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production edit
The album was produced by Springsteen, who also cowrote "Homestead" and "Dark and Bloody Ground"; Grushecky and Rick Witkowski also contributed.[clarification needed][6][7][8] It was recorded at Springsteen's Los Angeles home studio over a period of 18 months.[9][10] Springsteen played on the album, and Patti Scialfa sang on "Comin' Down Maria".[11]
The songs Grushecky wrote were less personal than those on his previous album, End of the Century, and more about universal themes and the state of America.[12] The album cover photos were shot by Pamela Springsteen.[13]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [14] |
| Chicago Sun-Times |  [15] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [16] |
| Los Angeles Times | [17] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [8] |
| Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | [18] |
| The Republican | [19] |
Rolling Stone praised Grushecky's "fine line in juke-blues hooks and a spare way with words."[20] The Los Angeles Times wrote that "the Darkness on the Edge of Town aura is inescapable, though Grushecky's limited writing and gravel-gargle voice rarely transcend journeyman status."[17] The Republican concluded that "Grushecky is a cool rockin' daddy in his own right, not a great vocalist, but strong enough to blend upper octave smoothness on 'Chain Smokin'."[19]
The New York Times stated: "For Mr. Grushecky's new songs, the Houserockers have turned into a western auxiliary of the E Street Band. Often, the first verse uses a basic guitar strum and a light drumbeat; the full band kicks in on the second verse, arriving like a rescue team to turn the humdrum into the heroic."[21] Stereo Review thought that "Grushecky's cigarette-rasp voice falls somewhere between that of Southside Johnny and Willy DeVille ... his plainspoken delivery is set off by stark, skeletal arrangements."[22] The Chicago Sun-Times called "No Strings Attached" "Grushecky's best anthem since the glory days of his Iron City Houserockers."[15]
AllMusic wrote that "there are plenty of songs outlining love gone wrong and the struggles of common folk, all delivered in Grushecky's warm, well-worn voice over a barroom mixture of blues-based traditional rock."[14]
Track listing edit
All tracks are written by Joe Grushecky, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dark & Bloody Ground" | Bruce Springsteen, Grushecky | |
| 2. | "Chain Smokin'" | ||
| 3. | "Never Be Enough Time" | ||
| 4. | "American Babylon" | ||
| 5. | "Labor of Love" | ||
| 6. | "What Did You Do in the War" | ||
| 7. | "Homestead" | Springsteen, Grushecky | |
| 8. | "Comin' Down Maria" | ||
| 9. | "Talk Show" | ||
| 10. | "No Strings Attached" | ||
| 11. | "Billy's Waltz" | Bill Toms, Grushecky | |
| 12. | "Only Lovers Left Alive" |
References edit
- ^ Galipault, Gerry (15 Oct 1995). "A friend calls on Springsteen, and he delivers". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2B.
- ^ "Picks & pans — American Babylon by Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers". People. Vol. 44, no. 20. Nov 13, 1995. p. 31.
- ^ "Joe Grushecky Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Mervis, Scott (20 Oct 1995). "Labor of love". Arts & Entertainment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 16.
- ^ Kot, Greg (25 Oct 1995). "'Ladies and Gentlemen, It's Star Time...'". Metro Chicago. Chicago Tribune. p. 12.
- ^ Luerssen, John D. (September 1, 2012). Bruce Springsteen FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Boss. Rowman & Littlefield.
- ^ Sawyers, June Skinner (October 20, 2006). Tougher Than the Rest: 100 Best Bruce Springsteen Songs. Omnibus Press.
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 511.
- ^ Takiff, Jonathan (18 Oct 1995). "The Buddy System: How Bruce Springsteen Has Helped Pal Joe Grushecky". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 29.
- ^ Sweeting, Adam (10 Nov 1995). "A chip off the old Boss". The Guardian. p. T10.
- ^ Harrington, Richard (26 Nov 1995). "Springsteen's Dour Grapes". The Washington Post. p. G9.
- ^ Christiano, Nick (19 Oct 1995). "He Needed a Boost, So He Called the Boss". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. E1.
- ^ Walsh, Jim (February 9, 1996). "Joe Grushecky American Babylon". Rocky Mountain News. Request Magazine. p. 25D.
- ^ a b "American Babylon". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Sachs, Lloyd (October 24, 1995). "Smooth Road to 'Babylon'". Features. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 33.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 26.
- ^ a b Hochman, Steve (28 Oct 1995). "Album Reviews". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 4.
- ^ Collins, Tracy (20 Oct 1995). "Grushecky's sound is sensational in 'American Babylon'". Arts & Entertainment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 17.
- ^ a b O'Hare, Kevin (October 15, 1995). "Joe Grushecky, 'American Babylon'". The Republican. p. E1.
- ^ Fricke, David (Dec 28, 1995). "The year in recordings — American Babylon by Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers". Rolling Stone. No. 724–725. p. 126.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (20 Oct 1995). "Springsteen as Mentor for a Milder Comrade". The New York Times. p. C18.
- ^ Puterbaugh, Parke (Mar 1996). "Born to run, and run". Stereo Review. Vol. 61, no. 3. p. 89.