Jack Lipton
BAD BOY (Rockinnn)
This Record has been rated 4 out of 5 stars by Mr. Bill Holmes
Boston bad boy Jack Lipton first warped ears with his classic garage band “The Penetrators” while trying to claw his way out of dead-end Syracuse New York. Not much has changed in Jack’s attitude - older, yes, mellower, never. Instead, garage rock has come full circle and pulled up to Jack’s stop once again. Passionate but straightforward rocking covers of “Search And Destroy” and “Dirty Water” feature fellow Syracusans turned Beantowners Ducky Carlisle, Paul Armstrong and Mark Doyle. More impressive are the other two tracks, collaborations with producer and multi-instrumentalist John Fannon. “Get Off That Corner” is Lipton’s take on urban gospel, while “Trouble” boasts a great hook, melody and harp-driven chorus - great, gritty pop soul by way of latter-day Ian Hunter. Dare I say a commercial garage sound? Too few tracks to proclaim the second coming, but interesting enough to hope for a full length. (Bill Holmes)