Deepcut to Nowhere

Whoever decreed that rockers had to sacrifice their edge to attain maturity obviously never met Graham Parker. The Brit-born, New York-based singer-songwriter has been making records since the mid-'70s, yet 2001's Deepcut to Nowhere is every bit as energetic and passionate as was his debut, Howlin' Wind, back in 1976. He is aided immeasurably here by a reunion with drummer Steve Goulding from the Rumour, the group with which Parker partnered for his first few albums. The quartet on these sessions is fronted by the singer's surprisingly adept electric and acoustic guitar work. The band--also including bassist Pete Donnelly of the Figgs and organist Professor Louie--is elastic enough to accommodate the customary GP range of moods and styles, from full-bore folk rock ("I'll Never Play Jacksonville Again") to ballads that can be R&B inflected ("Depend on Me") or more rural in tone ("Blue Horizon"). And should you question whether the razor-sharp attitude that produced bilious classics like "Mercury Poisoning" has survived, the song titles "It Takes a Village Idiot" and "Syphilis & Religion" assure you this Parkerilla remains proudly unmellowed. --Ben Edmonds