Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference."I am What I Hated When I Was Young", reckons Ian Hunter, but the way he expresses it here, it's hard to believe he doesn't derive a certain satisfaction from it. After all, an undertow of similarly trenchant cynicism marked some of his work with Mott The Hoople and his brutally-honest Diary of a Rock'n'Roll Star, so the grumpiness of songs such as "Fuss About Nothin" and "When the World Was Round" seems merely a matter of degree. The fire in his belly burns undimmed, judging by "Soul of America", an attack on American imperialism delivered with Springsteen-sized anger as he mourns the casualties of the Iraq campaign: "It's a godawful job, but it's got to be done/ Protecting the soul of America". But it's the self-awareness in "I am What I Hated When I Was Young" and "Words (Big Mouth)" that redeems Shrunken Heads. The country-rock arrangements are perfectly built to bear the singer's apology as he asks forgiveness for a depression-fuelled argument. "It's just words, cruel little clusters," he begs, knowing that he'll say it all again when the black dog calls.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments