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RICO BELL
Been A LongTime
Bloodshot Records
www.bloodshotrecords.com
Far from the frantic fury of his efforts with the Mekons, Rico Bell's solo work has a stipped-down, focused simplicity. This disc merges four vintage Bell cuts with four recent ones; the early tracks like
"Crime" bow to late '60s southern soul and New Orleans influences, while newer tracks like "Been A Long Time" have a Robert Earl Keen sensibility and subdude-ish instrumentation. Bell's only cover is John Lennon's
"Working Class Hero," passionately projected with the damning pop/protest of Springsteen or Dylan. Overall, it's a nice blend of old & new Americana from a musically astute Brit.
Dave Leucinger
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