International Affair
The Village Voice
Robert Christgau: Consumer Guide........ 59
To keep my bearings, I often review records in bunches, by stylistic
affinity. So I've reached back to 1990 yet againg to cathc up with Africa
and, er, jazz-rock. Gad-no lyrics to steal jokes from. But the 1991
picks were undeniable.
PICK HIT:
Linda Gail Lewis: International Affair (New Rose import): The
long-ago costar of the lowbrow gem Together registers more twang per
syllable than prime Duane Eddy, belting and screeching like a flat-out
hillbilly-Jeannie C. Riley, say. But though I'd love to hear her "Harper
Valley P.T.A." (or "Fist City," or"9 to 5"), she's Jerry Lee's sister,
wildass before she's anything else. She doesn't ignore country on this
band-centered studio job, but except for Billy Swan's "I Can Help" ("If
your child needs a mama we can discuss that too"), the standouts are
from Wolf-Justman, Dave Edmunds, Bob Dylan, all of whom should be damn
proud. Covering "They Called It Rock," she gets up to "Someone in the
newspaper said it was shit," and instead of rushing discreetly on to
the next line she draws out that last word with the relish of a gal
who's waited to sing it all her life. Pretty great.
A MINUS