MANITOBA'S REVENGE

Born in the Bronx
(Liberation Hall)

Last June, I turned 60. Handsome Dick Manitoba is a couple of years older. But with Born In the Bronx, he imparts that getting old need not be a drag.

The combustible disc, at the core of which are the former Dictators front man's trademark gutter-blast vocals, knocks to Hell the notion (sometimes warranted) that past legends who attempt relaunch fade from redoubt.

Manitoba reminds of his fellow New York singer Robert Gordon, in that both 1970s-forward luminaries still sound like they're in their 30s -- though with the enhanced grasp seasoning can bestow.

I'm not shoveling hyperbole when I say Born In the Bronx is 37,000 times better than the average 2020 disc. It roars where so many others posture. And that's a lot, in an era typified by blueprinted street-smarts pretension and computerized studio stuntery.

Every tune pulls its weight. Personal favorites include opening raver "Shelley," the Ed Wood-inspired "Big Army Brass," "Back To My TV's"   jolting romp, the gotta-dance "Surfside," steadily compelling "Layers Down," and "Callie May," an uppercut that lands squarely.

Abundant credit is due the stellar players assembled. Jon Tiven, first off, a multi-instrumentalist and session veteran who co-wrote most songs. His upfront guitar work swings, smashes, and sears into elevated territories of thunderstorm -- apt complement to Manitoba's infamously declamatory pipe stylings.

As HDM brags in the liner notes "We had a load of killer musicians from Nashville [!] playing on the record." Their illustrious number is too great for exhaustive enumeration here, but three are drummers Simon Kirke (Free, Bad Company, Ringo) and Mickey Curry (Tina Turner, Hall and Oates, Elvis Costello, Bryan Adams), and bassist Sally Tiven (BB King, Wilson Pickett, Don Covay).

It's a spectacularly energetic rocket arc. A declaration of evergreen bravado. It's Manitoba's Revenge on the aging process, on a not-always easy life, and on erstwhile band-mates he laments faltered. 

He stands tall without them.

And it gives cause for the sanguine vibe to others of us of advanced years. We can all going stomping and bellowing into that good night. 

(In a way, Manitoba is the reason I'm "DC Larson:" 1978 brought the third Dictators LP, Bloodbrothers. I took it down from a record store rack. On the back, the singer was billed as "H.D. Manitoba." I gazed into space. 'How would that formulation work, for me? I'm David Charles Larson, so that'd make me "DC Larson."' I liked the sound of that.)

Videos: 

"Shelley" (Manitoba/Tiven)
"Big Army Brass" (Manitoba/Tiven)
"Back To My TV" (Manitoba/Tiven)
"Surfside" Manitoba/Stephen J. Kalinich/Tiven)
"Layers Down" (Manitoba/Tiven)
"Callie May" (Manitoba/Tiven)

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