40 is the album Stray Cats fans have been waiting for. It’s been 26 years since Brian Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom, and Lee Rocker released a studio album. The result is a solid Brian Setzer album, yet a mediocre Stray Cats album.
What’s always made the Stray Cats special is the fact that the band is made up of three incredible musicians who each bring something different to the table. This time it sounds like Setzer was in complete control and Phantom and Rocker were hired studio musicians.
For fans, 40 is an album where you realize you should be careful what you wish for. It’s full of strong songs that don’t break new ground. “Cat Fight (Over A Dog Like Me)” is a typical Stray Cats song with the band’s trademark irresistibly cool sound combined with its trademark borderline ridiculous lyrics. Next we get “Rock It Off,” which isn’t a bad song but it just doesn’t have Phantom and Rocker’s magic infused into the final product.
The third song on the album, “I’ve Got Love If You Want It,” can be skipped. Fortunately, it’s followed by one of the more interesting songs on 40. “Cry Danger” is rockabilly meets ’80s new wave. It’s in the vein of Stray Cats deep cuts “Lust and Love” and “Cross of Love.” It would have felt fresh on Choo Choo Hot Fish, but now it feels dated rather than having the retro cool vibe that keeps the Stray Cats discography sounding fresh.
By the time “I Attract Trouble” comes around, you long for something more. The good news is that this song is an earworm and can hold its own. You’ll be singing along to the chorus of “you’re the kind of trouble I like” before the end of your first listen.
“Three Time’s a Charm’ continues the rocking. However, it all comes to a screeching halt with “That’s Messed Up.” Despite being a fun song, you can’t shake how juvenile the lyrics are. Setzer sings about how a relationship fell apart because his ex-girlfriend didn’t treat him well and follows it up with “that’s messed up.” While the argument can be made that many songs contain too much profanity, this is when that desperately calls for it because it feels like an awkward attempt at censorship. Are we really supposed to believe that a 60-year-old man from Long Island wouldn’t straight up say the whole situation is fucked up? Stray Cats songs are for the whole family, but it wouldn’t be the first instance of swearing in their music.
More than halfway through the album and 40 seemed like a situation “When Nothing’s Going Right.” At least something finally went right. With “When Nothing’s Going Right,” the Stray Cats have a song that would have been a hit in a different era. It’s easy to dance to and is pure fun.
“Desperado” is an instrumental Setzer solo. Alone, it is a fine song. On this album, it reminds you that the album is a trio and Setzer should leave his solos for the tour.
Rounding out the album are “Mean Pickin’ Mama,” “I’ll Be Looking Out For You,” and “Devil Train.” They’re all fun songs and a fitting end to an album that takes fans on a ride through the past. “Mean Pickin’ Mama” and “Devil Train” are straightforward rockabilly, while “I’ll Be Looking Out For You” is the Cats take on surf music. They’re all solid, yet lacking a special spark.
Diehard fans know that the Stray Cats are one entity. The band is not “Brian and those other two guys.” Unfortunately, this album’s dynamic makes it sound that way. If this wasn’t the Stray Cats 40th Anniversary album and was instead a Setzer solo album, this review might have been different.
Rating: 5 out of 10
I think that is just a bad review mate
The review misses the point and the fact that the 40 album (and I have everything they ever did) regains’ the vitality of the original Stray Cat’s debut album. 40 feels fresh with all the best aspects of what make’s them unique. This album is more killer than filler, which in comparison with most of the over produced ‘muzak’ being passed off as ‘Rock’n’Roll’ today, is refreshing. Not many bands can come out with something as cool after 40 years. Setzer’s Gretsch rules and still no one touch’s the Stray Cats.