Review: Jim Basnight "We Rocked and Rolled"

Disclosed Records has just released this 23 track career retrospective CD titled "We Rocked and Rolled: The First 25 Years of Jim Basnight: The Moberlys and Beyond". We've reviewed a couple releases by this Seattle-based rock and roll warrior, including his acclaimed "Seattle-New York-Los Angeles" CD with The Moberlys and "Makin' Bacon" with The Rockinghams. "We Rocked and Rolled" is a long overdue collection of some of the finest slices of rock and power pop from this prolific and grossly underrated talent.

The CD is arranged chronologically, beginning with some true gems from the beginning of Jim Basnight's musical career in the early 80s. His knack for writing killer pop rock hooks shows itself immediately with the infectious opener, "You Know, I Know" and the merry "Live In The Sun". His initial sound captured the bubblegum spirit of the great 60s groups such as Tommy James or The Buckinghams, but his style of garage rock kept it sounding real and genuine - bubblegum with a bite! Then he moved into Replacements territory, represented with cuts like "I Wanna Be Yours" and "Lose Me", even vocally sounding like a cross between Paul Westerberg and Mick Jagger.

Featured next on this collection are plenty of his choice cuts with The Rockinghams, including "Need A Car", "Hello Mary Jane", "Rock and Roll Girlfriend", "More Than One Way" and my favorite, "Space". The gritty tracks he recorded during this period had a distinct blues bar feel to them and remind many of early Rolling Stones. The CD closes with some more recent chapters in the Jim Basnight testament to rock and roll, including a newly recorded version of "We Rocked and Rolled" that pretty much sums it all up.

What I enjoyed most about this retrospective is listening to how Jim Basnight evolved as an artist over the past 25 years. Expanding into new musical territory while retaining your distinctive sound is a rare accomplishment, but Basnight seems to pull it off with ease. Here's to another 25 exciting years...

iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17, 23

Jim Basnight on MySpace. Official site.