Search - Ian Hunter :: All American Alien Boy

Not an instant classic, but brilliant nonetheless

Brian D. Hughes | Modesto, CA | 07/29/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ian Hunter's second solo album didn't hit me right away like his self-titled debut or 1979's "You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic." Sure, I knew it contained one of his greatest creations, the wistful and bittersweet ballad "Irene Wilde". But after a repeated listens, it grew on me and I found this to be essential Hunter even if Mick Ronson is absent and sorely missed. It contains Hunter's stab as Bowie-esque blue eyed soul (which he pulls off fairly well) in "All American Alien Boy," the hard rock of "Restless Youth", the soaring "You Nearly Did Me In", and the philosophical "God (Take 1)". The musical eclecticism delivered by Hunter and his band here are to be admired and appreciated. It takes some effort to be fully appreciated but the rewards are well worth it."

Shrewsbury Flower Show

Paul Ess. | Holywell, N.Wales,UK. | 04/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ian Hunter (voice like a rating who's been in the salty spray too long) is worryingly below most people's radar. Normally I'd be thrilled about this, but in Hunter's case it seems strangely criminal. Just because he's from the Borders doesn't automatically mean he's parochial and has to remain a cult figure. He is a VITALLY important singer/songwriter, up there with the best, and it sickens me watching the same pathetic old lags getting lauded and statued-up each time there's an 'Awards Ceremony' (a poor media euphemism for 'celebrities getting trolleyed') while, with rare exception, Hunter gets elbowed into the shadows.



I'll spell it out: in his pomp (ie here), he's easily as good as peak Dylan or Morrison. His words mean as much and his music is as spellbinding.

'Letter to Britannia From the Union Jack' and 'Irene Wilde' are two of the greatest songs ever written by an Englishman, yet how many of you reading this have heard either...?

Forget Jagger or Lennon, this is where to find the real rock and soul of the UK.



Hunter (along with Iggy Pop, Bowie, Reed, Bolan, Townshend, Smith etc etc ) is often cited as a 'Godfather of Punk'.

Why do people do this? How many 'Godfathers' does a sub-culture need? He writes beautifully about gritty and occasionally mundane subjects - is this all you need to do to get canonised by the faithless?

Bolan's credentials are even more tenuous bless him: he had the Damned on his TV show (For the record: Peter Cook was the Godfather of Punk Rock and opinions to the contrary are for the weak!).



I digress. 'All American Alien Boy' is brilliant, enriching rock music. Hunter's enlisted a few downgrade pals to help him out, but it's singularly him with the flame.

Old school. A dying breed.

He's ENTITLED to wear that black leather jacket.



"There ain't no rock n roll no more" he chirps, "Just the sickly sound of greed.."

A prophecy! In less enlightened times we'd have burnt him."