American Babylon
Studio album by
Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers
Released1995
LabelRazor & Tie[1]
ProducerBruce Springsteen
Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers chronology
End of the Century
(1992)		 American Babylon
(1995)		 Coming Home
(1997)

American Babylon is an album by Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers, released in 1995.[2][3] Grushecky supported the album by playing some East Coast and Midwest shows with Bruce Springsteen, his producer.[4][5]

Production

The album was produced by Springsteen, who also cowrote "Homestead" and "Dark and Bloody Ground"; Grushecky and Rick Witkowski also contributed.[6][7][8] It was recorded at Springsteen's Los Angeles home studio over a period of 18 months.[9][10] Springsteen played on the album, and Patti Scialfa sang on "Comin' Down Maria".[11]

The songs Grushecky wrote were less personal than those on his previous album, End of the Century, and more about universal themes and the state of America.[12] The album cover photos were shot by Pamela Springsteen.[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
Chicago Sun-Times[15]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[16]
Los Angeles Times[17]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[8]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette[18]
The Republican[19]

Rolling Stone praised Grushecky's "fine line in juke-blues hooks and a spare way with words."[20] The Los Angeles Times wrote that "the Darkness on the Edge of Town aura is inescapable, though Grushecky's limited writing and gravel-gargle voice rarely transcend journeyman status."[17] The Republican concluded that "Grushecky is a cool rockin' daddy in his own right, not a great vocalist, but strong enough to blend upper octave smoothness on 'Chain Smokin'."[19]

The New York Times stated: "For Mr. Grushecky's new songs, the Houserockers have turned into a western auxiliary of the E Street Band. Often, the first verse uses a basic guitar strum and a light drumbeat; the full band kicks in on the second verse, arriving like a rescue team to turn the humdrum into the heroic."[21] Stereo Review thought that "Grushecky's cigarette-rasp voice falls somewhere between that of Southside Johnny and Willy DeVille ... his plainspoken delivery is set off by stark, skeletal arrangements."[22] The Chicago Sun-Times called "No Strings Attached" "Grushecky's best anthem since the glory days of his Iron City Houserockers."[15]

AllMusic wrote that "there are plenty of songs outlining love gone wrong and the struggles of common folk, all delivered in Grushecky's warm, well-worn voice over a barroom mixture of blues-based traditional rock."[14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joe Grushecky, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dark & Bloody Ground"Bruce Springsteen, Grushecky 
2."Chain Smokin'"  
3."Never Be Enough Time"  
4."American Babylon"  
5."Labor of Love"  
6."What Did You Do in the War"  
7."Homestead"Springsteen, Grushecky 
8."Comin' Down Maria"  
9."Talk Show"  
10."No Strings Attached"  
11."Billy's Waltz"Bill Toms, Grushecky 
12."Only Lovers Left Alive"  

References

  1. ↑ Galipault, Gerry (15 Oct 1995). "A friend calls on Springsteen, and he delivers". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2B.
  2. ↑ "Picks & pans — American Babylon by Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers". People. 44 (20): 31. Nov 13, 1995.
  3. ↑ "Joe Grushecky Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  4. ↑ Mervis, Scott (20 Oct 1995). "Labor of love". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT. p. 16.
  5. ↑ Kot, Greg (25 Oct 1995). "'LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S STAR TIME . . .' SPRINGSTEEN GIVES PARK WEST CROWD A ROLLICKING TREAT". Chicago Tribune. METRO CHICAGO. p. 12.
  6. ↑ Luerssen, John D. (September 1, 2012). "Bruce Springsteen FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Boss". Rowman & Littlefield – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ Sawyers, June Skinner (October 20, 2006). "Tougher Than the Rest: 100 Best Bruce Springsteen Songs". Omnibus Press – via Google Books.
  8. 1 2 MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 511.
  9. ↑ Takiff, Jonathan (18 Oct 1995). "THE BUDDY SYSTEM: HOW BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN HAS HELPED PAL JOE GRUSHECKY". Philadelphia Daily News. FEATURES YO!. p. 29.
  10. ↑ Sweeting, Adam (10 Nov 1995). "A chip off the old Boss". The Guardian. p. T10.
  11. ↑ Harrington, Richard (26 Nov 1995). "Springsteen's Dour Grapes". The Washington Post. p. G9.
  12. ↑ Christiano, Nick (19 Oct 1995). "HE NEEDED A BOOST, SO HE CALLED THE BOSS". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. E1.
  13. ↑ Walsh, Jim (February 9, 1996). "Joe Grushecky American Babylon". Rocky Mountain News. Request Magazine. p. 25D.
  14. 1 2 "American Babylon - Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  15. 1 2 Sachs, Lloyd (October 24, 1995). "Smooth Road to 'Babylon'". Chicago Sun-Times. Features. p. 33.
  16. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 26.
  17. 1 2 Hochman, Steve (28 Oct 1995). "Album Reviews". Los Angeles Times. Calendar. p. 4.
  18. ↑ Collins, Tracy (20 Oct 1995). "Grushecky's sound is sensational in 'American Babylon'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT. p. 17.
  19. 1 2 O'Hare, Kevin (October 15, 1995). "Joe Grushecky, 'American Babylon'". The Republican. p. E1.
  20. ↑ Fricke, David (Dec 28, 1995). "The year in recordings — American Babylon by Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers". Rolling Stone (724–725): 126.
  21. ↑ Pareles, Jon (20 Oct 1995). "Springsteen as Mentor For a Milder Comrade". The New York Times. p. C18.
  22. ↑ Puterbaugh, Parke (Mar 1996). "Born to run, and run". Stereo Review. 61 (3): 89.
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