Performer Notes

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: Jon Spencer (vocals, guitar); Judah Bauer (bass guitar); Russell Simins.
Personnel: Judah Bauer (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric bass); Chris Maxwell (vocals, guitar); Steve Jordan (vocals, Fender Rhodes piano, Clavinet); Russell Simins (vocals, drums); Phil Hernandez, Chuck D (vocals); James Chance (saxophone); Scott Zillitto (baritone saxophone); Will Hoffman (trumpet); Mark "Moogy" Klingman (Wurlitzer organ); Curtis Shaw (chamberlin); Jay Braun (keyboards); Chris Shaw (synthesizer); Walter E. Sear (Moog synthesizer); Jesse Wallace (congas); DJ Shadow (scratches).
Additional personnel: Chuck D (rap vocals); Danny Madorsky (Hammond b-3 organ); Walter Sear (Moog synthesizer); Chris Maxwell, Phil Hernandez.
Audio Mixers: DJ Shadow; Russell Simins; Don Smith ; Chris Shaw ; Elegant Too; Hugo Nicholson; Alan Moulder; Russell Elevado.
Audio Remixer: Chris Shaw .
Recording information: Elegant Too Studios; Empire View; Globe.
Photographer: Ashkan Sahihi.
Unknown Contributor Role: Mike "Machine Gun" Edison.
One great thing about the Blues Explosion (formerly known as the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) is the willingness to open its raucous, intuitive rock & roll to collaborative efforts. A ASS POCKET OF WHISKEY, a record they cut with blues icon R.L. Burnside, is one such example. DAMAGE continues the trend by featuring numerous guests, including trip-hop vocalist Martina Topley-Bird, rapper Chuck D, and some of the most inventive DJ/producers working in the game. The punchy, grinding grooves of "Crunchy," for instance, are given a big-screen, high-gloss production treatment by Dan the Automator, while "Fed Up and Low Down" gets some delicious cut-up editing and scratching from DJ Shadow. Topley-Bird's ethereal singing floats through the pulsing psychedelic ballad "Spoiled."
These contributions offset Blues Explosion's trademark raunch, while simultaneously highlighting their developed songwriting and playing. As opposed to some of the group's more noise-oriented efforts, 2004's DAMAGE is full of tight jams, primal beats, and infectious, Stones-y swagger (see the driving "Burn It Off"). And, as always, Spencer plays the frontman to perfection; he's a libidinous yelper, a sinister shaman, and an all-around rabble-rouser (especially on the politically inclined "Hot Gossip," featuring Chuck D). Loaded with energy and dynamics, DAMAGE may be the band's most accomplished record to date.

Professional Reviews

Spin (p.120) - "Time and practice have made them a far more straightforward rock band..."

Uncut (p.106) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[The] further broaden their sound, which embraces Stax-style soul, nuggety funk and gruff, politicized rap with equal enthusiasm. More variety in their blues, certainly, but no less vigour."

Magnet (p.93) - "DAMAGE runs through classic Blues Explosion moves on the title track but ventures quickly and assuredly into a horn-heavy instrumental, a punchy, funky and glitchy excursion featuring sax by James Chance..."

CMJ (p.12) - "DJ Shadow squelches a 9/8 vamp while James Chance unleashes unholy sax skronk..."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.101) - 4 stars out of 5 - "As overdriven and mutated a nose as ever they've managed, DAMAGE! also retains Blues Explosion's trademark sweat-drenched feel for soul..."

Album: Damage
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Damage
2)	Burn It Off
3)	Spoiled
4)	Crunchy
5)	Hot Gossip
6)	Mars, Arizona
7)	You Been My Baby
8)	Rivals
9)	Help These Blues
10)	Fed Up and Low Down
11)	Rattling
12)	Blowing My Mind

Album: Damage
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Damage
2)	Burn It Off
3)	Spoiled
4)	Crunchy
5)	Hot Gossip
6)	Mars, Arizona
7)	You Been My Baby
8)	Rivals
9)	Help These Blues
10)	Fed Up and Low Down
11)	Rattling
12)	Blowing My Mind