Don’t be upset to discover that even we don’t like this as much as Jim’s first solo LP. Still, Pigworm is a good album, too, albeit very different from Hot Thumbs O’Riley. This one doesn’t hit you immediately, as the first one did, but it is nevertheless a nice and listenable album. Well, what I’m trying to say is that Jim has made a damn good record, which I am listening to with great pleasure. And that is the main criteria – is the record worth listening to.
Jim Pembroke isn’t the most extroverted person, we know that. But we also know that living inside him is another kind of creature who, occasionally, can be very noisy. Only not as noisy as I would like it to be, but still ...
So this album is quite laid back and subdued, but still with some raving mad moments. We would have to take Pembroke through psychoanalysis if we were to know what makes this album the way it is. So why don’t we just view it as it is – a nice record.
On the whole, it is very interesting, though not a masterpiece. It is the small details that make this record. Jukka Gustavson plays some very dynamic riffs here and there. Pekka Pohjola is astounding, putting in excellent, precisely shaped bass lines. The new guy, Pekka Rechardt, plays a few fine, melodic guitar solos. At times, Otto Donner’s brass arrangements are simply divine, and so on. Jim himself plays the piano and sings brilliantly throughout – perhaps a bit more expression would have been needed, but even now Jim’s singing carries a lot of expression.
Jim’s songwriting isn’t always a huge celebration of the musical arts, but the important thing is how it is performed, and Jim always puts in great performances. In my opinion, the best songs here are ‘Time To Make A Stand’, ‘No New Games To Play’ and ‘No More Terra Firma’.