Suzi Quatro - The Devil In Me (2021)

It must get increasingly difficult for veteran acts to remain relevant in the mainstream rock/pop industry. Big name metal bands from the 80s don’t seem to struggle so much, but it’s a different thing to be on Top Of The Pops in 1974, then remain a force to be reckoned with in those same circles. Enter Michigan rocker Suzi Quatro: the most badass bitch the rock ‘n’ roll world ever did see. A household name thanks to her mega-hits “Can The Can” and “Devil Gate Drive”, Suzi actually has a large roster of albums and singles beyond the obvious. We all marvelled when 2019’s No Control turned out to be really good, remarking how wonderful it was that a 68-year-old was still on top form. Well, here in 2021, dear old Suzi Q. approaches her 72nd year on this planet…and manages to somehow sound even better. Last year, Alcatrazz seriously impressed with a 72-year-old Graham Bonnett at the helm – but there’s just something cooler about Suzi doing it. Maybe it’s because she plays bass, maybe it’s her scandal-less career, or – like I said – because she’s just one badass bitch. The great woman herself has described new effort The Devil In Me as the best album of her career and, loathe though I am to agree with this all-too-common claim, by jove she has a point.

The opening title-track makes an instant impact with a gritty guitar tone, driving momentum and buckets full of attitude. This was the perfect choice for a first single. I won’t bullshit about how Suzi’s voice sounds ‘just as youthful as ever’ or that she ‘hasn’t aged’ – of course she’s aged…and that’s precisely the special essence of her voice. She’s husky and mature, but never misses a note and makes the most of her admirable lower range. Sophomore track “Hey Queenie” is a swingin’ hard-rockin’ anthem that outlies the all the best characteristics of her vocals – especially that chant-along refrain: ‘QUEEN-EH! QUEEN-EH!’ – that shit’s irresistible. Lest we forget that Quatro isn’t just holding that bass as she sings; boy does she ensure that the basslines are endlessly interesting and always integral to the composition. Completing the hat-trick of opening tracks is the stomping “Betty Who?”. Sure, that chorus is catchier than the plague – particularly the fun-loving backing vocals – but the beauty of this number is that steady foot-tapping tempo that makes me grin almost skeletally.

By the end of the exciting, 80s-a-riffic “You Can’t Dream It”, you’re thoroughly settled into the groove of this LP and, if the rest of the record pushed with the same momentum, it would be an out-and-out winner. However, whilst I certainly appreciate variety to keep things interesting, some of this album’s more experimental moments tend to send my attention wandering. Both “In The Dark” and “Love’s Gone Bad” come across as unmemorable (though still well executed), but the worst culprit is the saccharine “My Heart & Soul”. It pains me to disparage this number as it’s clearly near and dear to Suzi’s heart, and features some stand-out bass work, but all the misty major-7th chords and sweet sentiments can’t save it from being a bit of a snoozefest. Thank Christ for the fiery “Get Outta Jail” and almost illegally funky “Do Ya Dance” for slapping me in the face and convincing me to power on to the end of the album. This is the kinda shit you wanna be vibing to whilst riding a Harley through neon-lit streets at max speed.

The energy dip that actually works and feels earned is the sleazy “Isolation Blues”, a traditional loungy blues number which I’m sure we can all relate to. However, the jewel in the crown of this record is the finale; the joyously fun “Motor City Riders”. It’s always a genius move when an artist saves the best track for last, and Suzi knew exactly what she was doing when she chose to end on this killer rock ‘n’ roll biker anthem. More than 50 years since Suzi Quatro’s performing days began, she remains the star of the show. There’s some great diverse keyboard work, and I love the drummer’s focus on tom-driven grooves, but the charisma of Quatro herself outshines everything. The Devil In Me isn’t a surprise, seeing as how No Control already confirmed that things were in good hands, but it’s a heroic affirmation of the quality of one of rock’s most reliable mainstays. A victory lap, if you will. All hail the true Queen of rock ‘n’ roll, long may she reign!

by Larry Best, metal-observer.com

Tracklist:

01. The Devil In Me - 3:25
02. Hey Queenie - 4:09
03. Betty Who? - 3:58
04. You Can't Dream It - 3:09
05. My Heart And Soul (Long Version) - 5:12
06. Get Outta Jail - 3:19
07. Do Ya Dance - 2:44
08. Isolation Blues - 3:39
09. I Sold My Soul Today - 2:37
10. Love's Gone Bad - 4:26
11. In The Dark - 3:09
12. Motor City Riders - 3:54
13. Can I Be Your Girl - 3:36
14. Desperado - 3:41