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.Jeff Klein's smoky voice has a bruised world-weariness on The Hustler, his excellent third album, recorded with former Afghan Whig Greg Dulli and Mark Napolitano at the latter's New Orleans studio. The title track sets the tone, acoustic guitar picking flecked by glints of lap steel as Klein offers an oddly numb, haunted response to a lover's passion.
A brutal melancholy scars the album, which finds Klein offering one girl "another pity fuck before you fall asleep", and observing with almost ruthless relish the lonely subjects of "Nobody's Favourite Girl", "The 19th Hole" and "Suzanne". "Do you think they'll remember about you when you're gone?" he asks the latter, "Cos I don't think they even notice when you're around." Not that his meanness brings Klein much satisfaction, judging by the drowning metaphors of "Stripped" and "Cobalt Hue". But the settings are intriguing, with muted trumpet, backward guitar and expressive percussion.
Best of all is "Nearly Motionless", where fuzz guitar and clunking marimba surround Klein's acknowledgement that he's "still chained to broken dreams, and wishing on open scars".
DOWNLOAD THIS: 'Nearly Motionless', 'Stripped', 'The 19th Hole', 'The Hustler'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments