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That said, this outfit grew out of an unlikely collaboration with a Welsh folksinger half her age named John-Paul Jones, a.k.a. JP. Supposedly they both knew their animal attraction couldn’t sustain the generational difference, so they put at least a portion of that energy into songwriting. Their conundrum is laid out immediately in “Perfect Lover”, wherein she lists her detriments while he rasps his devotion notwithstanding.
The rest of the album provides further ruminations on romance and the futility thereof, and plenty of opportunities for us to get what she saw in him musically. His yowl dominates “If You Let Me”, an otherwise outstanding rocker. The symbol of the fairground looms large here, in two song titles as well as the band name, and we can’t figure out why. JP handles “Leave Me If You Must” all his own (if he hasn’t listened to Leonard Cohen yet, he probably should) but most of the tracks fall into the conversation trope, as in “Australia” and “Courage”. “Misty Valleys” is just Chrissie, and it’s lovely in its catchy melancholy, while “Meanwhile” presents a different balance, and “Never Drink Again” and the title track suggest she regrets the circumstances of their fabled first meeting.
This is all conjecture, but the listener gets an overwhelming feeling of voyeurism throughout Fidelity! Still, a crack band of unknowns anchors each track, although JP’s constant presence is an acquired taste, and very much why this shouldn’t be called a Pretenders album. Chrissie sounds as alluring as ever, and that’s what makes it all click. One would think it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, but she’s yet to work with any of the players since.
JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys Fidelity! (2010)—3
The rootsy sound here isn’t all that far removed from “Break Up the Concrete”, so this could conceivably have been another version of the Pretenders. Jones is a solid songwriter, a solid player and the Fairground Boys were a solid band. Then his voice chimes in on “Perfect Lover”, and I want to grit my teeth. You say that it’s an acquired taste, but I can’t acquire it. His singing pretty much mars the first half of the album, which is unfortunate. His showcase, “Leave Me If You Must”, doesn’t make me want to seek out his three solo albums at all.
ReplyDeleteIt’s unfortunate, because they lyrics and music are all good, and Chrissie sounds as spectacular as ever. My favorite songs are the last four. At that point, J.P. starts taking a back seat, appearing in more of a support role and less as a main vocalist. Of course, the concept would make less sense if he didn’t sing, but I don’t care that much. In my perfect fantasy world, the album would be remixed, taking his his voice out and leaving at all up to Chrissie.