JOHN DOE'S a very busy man indeed. It's only recently that your reviewer found out how many films he's appeared in. It's a staggering list, including several ALLISON ANDERS movies, OLIVER STONE'S "Salvador" (with JAMES WOODS) and even a bit part in 1997's "Boogie Nights," the film that single-handedly re-established BURT REYNOLDS.
If this is beginning to sound like it should be in our POPCORN DOUBLE FEATURE section, then don't panic, Mr. Mainwaring, because JOHN DOE'S better known for his wonderfully incendiary records with ace LA punkers X, plus some insurgent Alt. Country with X vocalist (and ex-wife) EXENE CERVENKA as THE KNITTERS.
Starting with the Geffen label, "Meet John Doe" in 1989 introduced DOE'S sporadic, but cool solo career, and it's an idiosyncratic path he's returned to occasionally since.
"Freedom Is…" comes as the latest instalment and it's one you should miss at your peril, containing all the vicarious thrills, romantic (but slightly nihilistic) poetry and pistons-firing rock 'n' roll you'd expect from a DOE outing.
Produced by DAVE WAY, the guy - bizarrely - previously responsible for the likes of MACY GRAY and, er, CHRISTINA AGUILERA, "Freedom Is…" features a host of A-line contributors like JOEY WARONKER, BECK guitarist SMOKY HORMEL and BEASTIE BOYS keyboard king MONEY MARK NISHITA and supplies the kind of hi-octane excitement you'd thus hope would be realised.
Regardless of his celebrity guest book, though, "Freedom Is…" remains very much DOE'S show. Songs like the crunching, anthemic "Someday/ No Day" and the meaty, tough shit resignation of "Beat Up World" pull precious few punches and it would be fair to say there's at least half a dozen songs here that would rank among JOHN'S best.
Indeed, "Telephone By The Bed" launches a phenomenal run of songs: its' cruise control melody belying the hurt in Doe's voice as he sings: " I held your hand/ Now it's hell to hand it back." The damning "Ever After" follows in its' slipstream, with EXENE CREVENKA co-hollering like in vintage X days. The cheapness of life(style) is all too tangible here with the chorus: "This shit isn't funny, we all been passed out on the floor/ some people can't get off it."
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The semi-acoustic "Ultimately Yrs." Musically represents an oasis of calm, although Doe's lyrics are typically dark and claustrophobic. Besides, it's soon followed by the frenzied riffing of the stinging "Smile And Wave" and the reality check of the snarling "Too Many Goddamn Bands" ("CDs and CDs and more CDs…now it's totally fuckin' outta hand") which exposes the supposed "glamour" of life on the road for the sham it really is, while - akin to X - rocking like the greatest souped up '50s combo there never was.
Things relax a little with the tender "Totally Yours" and the wisdom-fuelled "Sueltame", but when Doe sings: "don't let me leave you" as the latter's kiss off line, you can't fail to be moved.
Although he's approaching veteran status in this all-too temporary world, "Freedom Is…" finds JOHN DOE fashioning an album bursting with the fire, commitment and (dark) heart that would make a man half his age very jealous indeed.
I wouldn't want to wish JOHN anything but success in his acting career, but let's hope he leaves his musical windows of opportunity open too. "Freedom Is…" is the kind of record to truly cherish.
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