Having recently turned 70, Ian Hunter embraces a certain familiarity
on Man Overboard, which picks up where 2007’s Shrunken Heads left off. Quickly getting back in the studio after
Shrunken, Hunter was able to revisit the Heads experience
before the vibe wore off. Most of the band from those sessions is back,
including veteran drummer Steve Holley and guitarist James Mastro.
Mixing ballads and rockers, Overboard‘s overall sound is rather
light. Hunter’s marvelous sense of humor is evident, especially on the
opening “Great Escape.” And “Girl From the Office” is one of the
funniest songs he’s ever written. Even though the songs might be funny,
it doesn’t mean they’re not serious. They’re crafted in such a way that
it may take a hypnotist to erase the melodies from your head. The title
track is signature Hunter, easily measuring up to any piece of poetry
his hero Bob Dylan has written recently, and “Win It All” and “Way With
Words” are both inspiring. — Karen Laney
This article appears in Jul 22-28, 2009.
