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AFTERLIFE
(Rykodisc)
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The reunion of English post-punk legend Joe Jackson’s original late-’70s quartet was one of 2003’s more pleasant musical surprises. Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the band’s formation, singer/keyboardist Jackson, guitarist Gary Sanford, bassist Graham Maby, and drummer Dave Houghton recorded their first album together since 1980’s Beat Crazy and supported it with a six-month world tour. As this live disc — collecting 13 songs from four California concerts — shows, the group hadn’t lost a trace of their nervy edge or an ounce of muscle. The quiet solo piano rendition of Jackson’s 1982 hit "Steppin’ Out" that opens the album is something of a decoy; immediately thereafter, Sanford lays into the choppy chords of "One More Time" and it’s 1979 all over again. Given Jackson’s reputation for contrariness, you won’t be surprised to find that his best-known early tunes, "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" and "It’s Different for Girls," aren’t represented here. But even without them, the mix of fiery old standards ("Look Sharp!", "Don’t Wanna Be like That") and acidic new numbers ("Awkward Age," "Take It like a Man") works. Peak moments: a reggae crawl through "Fools in Love," with extra quotes from the Yardbirds’ "For Your Love," and a simmering take on "Beat Crazy."
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