Graham Parker and the Rumour
Mystery Glue
(UME)
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Long suffering Graham Parker enthusiasts who watched their hero tumble from his late 70s heights into a career laden with inconsistent albums, backup bands and gradually decreasing commercial interest were likely enthusiastic about his 2011-2012 comeback. Between a key role in Judd Apatow’s This is 40 flick (referenced in this album’s self-deprecating “My Life in Movieland”) and a reunion with the Rumour after 32 years that yielded the better than expected Three Chords Good, it seemed Parker was on a well-deserved rebound.
The anticipated follow-up though finds Parker stumbling again. Things start strong with the opening “Transit of Venus” that has the Rumour working a bluesy Dylan folk/rock groove over Parker’s gravelly, always emotional and distinctive voice. But soon afterwards the songwriting starts to feel both lazy and reminiscent of Parker’s previous efforts except not as powerful or interesting.
Attempts at political and journalistic critiques such as “Swing State” and “Slow News Day” feel forced and stiff both musically and lyrically with Parker trying too hard to be relevant. Reflections on life in “I’ve Done Bad Things” and “Flying into London” never find the sparks the collaboration once shot out so naturally. The spirited reggae of “Fast Crowd” comes close but tries to cram too many words into a melody that isn’t strong enough to support them. The feistier, bluesy “Railroad Spikes” that documents the history of transportation with the advent of the automobile almost captures the jaunty pub rocking groove that put Parker and his band on the map.
For their part, the Rumour plays well but is often bland and occasionally even invisible, something that could never be said of them back in the day. Parker gamely tries to sell this material with energetic, typically soulful singing but that also has lost much of its bite and edge.
Still, a hit and miss Parker/Rumour album this late in both act’s career is a notch above much of what is out there. While it doesn’t come close to their best work, there is enough spunk and pluck on Mystery Glue to provide the Parker faithful with confidence that better work remains in him.