Jimmy Barnes – Defiant (Mushroom Music) (13th Floor Album Review)
There are no two words more emblematic of Australian music than Jimmy Barnes.
Jim is too quiet, reserved and mild. James wears collared shirts and polished RM Williams boots under his jeans.
But Jimmy… you can shout Jimmy across a crowded bar – schooner Jimmy? – or over the fence – borrow your chainsaw Jimmy? – or across the street – coming to the footy on Friday Jimmy? Jimmy’s so emphatic it needs to be followed by an exclamation mark: Jimmy!
And Barnes is the link to the old country – it’s a castle in East Lothian, Scotland. Or is it something bigger than a shed, something larger than a garage, somewhere you’d store a classic Holden with hay on the back seat, a couple of old surfboards and that chainsaw?
Jimmy! The everyman Aussie battler who’s seen more than his fair share of hard knocks, bruises, blood and guts, often self-inflicted.
Jimmy! brings a voice so well-worn, rugged and grainy it could smooth a piece of rough-sawn jarrah. But it also has soul and feeling and like any 69-year-old scotch it has a depth and flavour few could match.
That voice is used to great effect on this album, powerful, punchy and purposeful.
“Opening up every piece of your soul, there ain’t no mile you won’t walk in the cold – you’re a fighter,” he smashes out on That’s What You Do For Love, a classic rousing rock ‘n roll track that makes you feel all mushy inside (but don’t let on).
The Long Road sets the scene for Jimmy!’s life growing up in hard-baked Australia.
“I was a wild young man on a mission, money fame and a few fine women,”
But he’s not seeking forgiveness for the wrongs of his past. Jimmy! will face the music on his own terms.
And on New Day he’s telling us he’s changed for the better – “I’m a new man now, got myself back on track again.” He’s not drinking, his foot’s off the gas and he’s not the hot-head he once was.
Recording the album in Nashville has added some real depth to the Jimmy! story. It’s smoothed off some of those hard edges and evened-out some of the bumps we might know from the past adding a touch of country ease to the hard hand of rock ‘n roll.
He’s joined on drums by Jason Bonham (son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham), and family members Jackie Barnes, daughter Mahalia and son-in-law Benjamin Rodgers, the sense of family going to the heart of what Jimmy!’s about these days.
“Nobody lives this long without copping some knocks and I’ve taken my fair share, particularly lately,” Jimmy! shares in the press notes. “I’ve finally learned how to turn my stubborn Scottish streak into something positive – something that helps me survive.
The title track lets us know that he’s still a fighter – “I don’t get tired, I just get higher. I’m Defiant” is the message.
And he won’t back down an inch, explaining again in the release, “I can see there’s a recurring theme about the satisfaction you can get from fighting back. That’s why it’s called DEFIANT!”
Defiant by name. Defiant by nature.
That’s Jimmy!
Alex Robertson
Jimmy Barnes – DEFIANT
Out Friday 6 June via Mushroom Music
