Simon RushworthIan Hunter — Defiance Part 2: Fiction (Sun Records)
It takes a brave soul to go up against Taylor Swift on album release day.
But few recording artists boast the courage and swagger of glam rock’s great survivor.
And it’s unlikely Ian Hunter had any qualms releasing Defiance Part 2 on the same day as the biggest pop star on the planet dropped her hotly anticipated new tunes.
It’s comforting to think there’ll be some audience crossover.
In fact, the world’s Swifties could learn a lot from Hunter and there’s already some common ground here.
Taylor’s a self-confessed Def Leppard fan: Joe Elliott’s quite possibly the biggest Mott The Hoople devotee we’ve ever met.
And Leppard’s frontman — as well as band mate Phil Collen — is one of many special guests on this star-studded record.
If that’s one entry-point to Defiance Part 2 then the enduring quality of Hunter’s creativity should engage music fans across genres and generations.
Even the most pop-minded of Swift’s billion-plus followers should appreciate the songwriting craft at the heart of a classic album.
And they may well recognise more of the famous collaborators pacing a lyrically biting and musically ambitious body of work.
Talking of Taylors, the much-missed engine room of the Foo Fighters is central to Defiance Part 2’s rhythmic thrust.
Taylor Hawkins appears on four tracks here and — two years after his tragic passing — it still doesn’t feel real that rock’s been robbed of a generational talent.
Then there’s The 3rd Rail featuring Jeff Beck: it’s a delightful track dedicated to the late six stringer.
Oh, and Queen’s Brian May, Cheap Trick duo Robin Zander and Rick Nielson and a host of Stone Temple Pilots pop up throughout one of the albums of the year.
Hunter gatherer mops up his mates
When Lucinda Williams bursts into song on the meandering ballad What Would I Do Without You, a very special record reaches its precious peak.
There’s something truly magical about hearing the Americana queen bounce off Hunter’s perfectly pitched piano and Benmont Tench’s sweeping organ.
But Hope is equally heartwarming.
The emotional set closer pairs Williams with Billy Bob Thornton on backing vocals.
Hawkins’ understated drums and bass keep the whole thing rolling along.
And while Tench is back, this time on the synth, there’s still room for Steve Holley to join the party with maracas and a tambourine.
If you listen to one new rock track this year then tune into Hope. It’s genius.
Hunter’s always been a politically charged beats and, while he insists he steered clear of too much societal commentary on Defiance Part 1, the gloves are off second time around.
Opener People —‘We know what people want/no you don’t’ — cuts to the chase of a world in peril, shaped by algorithms and preconceptions.
The gang-style backing vocals, featuring Zander and Elliot, amongst others, provide a disarmingly upbeat backdrop to an otherwise foreboding track.
But at 84, Hunter hasn’t got time to skirt around the issue. Or issues.
Referencing this year’s US presidential election he explained: “I wanted to get it all out before whatever takes hold in November. It would be dated after the fact.”
Or maybe not.
You see, Hunter’s always had a knack for penning timeless tunes. And much of what he says here will be relevant for decades.
Defiance Part 2 is built on rock and roll’s foundations of rebelliousness and insubordination. As a self-avowed disruptor, Hunter has never sounded more relevant.
