Joe Jackson - Rain

Oh look, another Joe Jackson album... that sounds like another Joe Jackson album. It's not that I don't like his music, it's inoffensive enough to play at a dinner party, and he is an extremely proficient pianist. Any one who is a Joe Jackson fan will have had this on pre-order for months, I imagine.
About the music - it's a guy who writes neatly rounded songs, with very good piano, plus discreet but able backing from members of... you've guessed it.... the Joe Jackson band. There are some jazz influences creeping in, but it's mainly bland pop. Well, not even that. I can't see it having a place in the charts of today.



And let's face it, nothing measures up to the classic 'Steppin' Out' or 'It's Different for Girls'.



But... an interesting fact about Joe Jackson is that he is still a smoker. In fact, I would go so far as to say he is a militant smoker. In other words, his website (yup, Joe Jackson.com) contains a whole section on the pro-smoking movement, with links to health and culture related sites which promote rather than denigrate smoking.



So feel free to light one up, but don't expect much excitement on the musical front. Sorry Joe.