When I’m President
Reaffirms Ian Hunter’s status as a true rock ‘n’ roll great...
Paul O'Mahony, 15 Oct 2012
As an album, this is less of the rocker-ballad-rocker-ballad format of earlier Hunter releases, instead taking curious and unexpected turns, from the bluesy groove of ‘I Don’t Know What You Want’ to darker Native American refrains reminiscent of the 1970s UK band Mr Big (whom Hunter produced) on ’Ta Shunka Witco (Crazy Horse)’ and the catchy ‘Saint. ’ Issues of quality control raise their head, alas, with the plodding opener ‘Comfortable (Flyin’ Scotman)’and the forgettable ‘Just The Way You Look Tonight’.
Almost strangely for a Hunter solo album, there is no slot for the soaring ‘big ballad’; instead we get a beautifully restrained and emotive ‘Black Tears’ which would stand alongside the aforementioned title track as a worthy addition to any definitive Hunter setlist. No mean feat.
Not perfect by any means, When I’m President reaffirms Ian Hunter’s status as a true rock ‘n’ roll great and is all the better for being so unexpected.
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