Jukebox Explosion

They Say...

Review by Mark Deming, All Music Guide

Given their fervent belief in all that is loud, sleazy, and butt-shakable, it's no great surprise that the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion saved some of their most raucous performances for that most all-killer, no-filler of audio formats, the 7" single. Jukebox Explosion crams 18 JSBX sides that were previously available only on 7" vinyl (most as part of In the Red's Blues Explosion Jukebox Series) or were never before released onto one CD for the turntable deprived, and if this set lacks a bit of the coherent flow of the group's best albums, for sheer party-down noise this is high-octane frenzy at its most satisfying. While some observers have grumbled that JSBX's work in the 21st century hasn't been up to the standards they previously established, even the newer tracks on Jukebox Explosion roar like a mountain lion on steroids, with the Plastic Fang outtake "Ghetto Mom" sounding as good as anything on board. Other high points include "Caroline," a venomous kiss-off to the band's former record label; the slow and melodramatic "Jailhouse Blues" (a cover of an old Andre Williams number); the heavy-grinding "Showgirl" (featuring Cristina Martinez of Boss Hog on backing vox and previously available as a giveaway from Sassy Magazine, of all places); and "Curfew Blues," a soulful strut Spencer confesses was ripped off from Earl King at the fade. If you prefer JSBX's more polished efforts such as Acme and Plastic Fang, Jukebox Explosion may not be your cup of cheap whiskey, but if you want to hear this band rocking full-stop, this does the job as well as anything these guys have released since Crypt Style. Points added for the excellent cover artwork by Mort Todd, which should look familiar to fans of the Back from the Grave series.