Rent Party

The long awaited Waldos album proved to be a big success, at least artistically. Led by former Heartbreakers co-lead guitarist and co-lead singer Walter Lure, the Waldos tear through a set of tunes that are as much fun as a CD can have with its clothes on. Unfortunately the air of tragedy that surrounds Lure and the Waldos tempers the rock & roll good time. After threatening to put out an album for about six years, this platter finally arrived and exceeded expectations. Produced by Andy Shernoff (Dictators), this is a fully realized piece of work. For lack of a simpler description, think of it as the follow-up (over 15 years later) to the Heartbreakers' LAMF album. Unlike much of the Johnny Thunders solo work, though, this stays firmly in Heartbreakers territory. Rent Party has several "new" Walter Lure tunes on it (many people don't realize that Lure wrote and sang half the Heartbreakers' material), all of which don't miss a beat from the old days. Of particular interest is "Flight," a song that the original Heartbreakers did back in the Richard Hell days. It is a good-time rock & roll classic and it's hard to imagine why it was dropped from the band's set so early on. Also, a Jerry Nolan original, "Countdown Love," sees the light of day for the first time here. Several covers that Lure had been playing for years find their way onto the disc as well. Most notably, "Seven Day Weeked" is pretty much as close as you'll get to a statement of purpose. Ray Charles' "Busted" gets the treatment as well. Lure must be a tough guy because most of the people who play on this are dead. Tony Coiro -- dead. Saxman Jamey Heath -- dead. Drummer Charlie Sox died before these sessions. Lifelong friends Jerry Nolan and Johnny Thunders -- dead. Somehow Lure has maintained his spirit and vision through it all and he's managed to stay alive. ~ Geoff Ginsberg