Album Review: Jack Oblivian and the Sheiks — Lone Ranger of Love
Jack Oblivian and the Sheiks released Lone Ranger of Love in 2016; as good as it was, it quickly went out of print. But Black and Wyatt Records has had the good sense to reissue it in late 2020. If your taste in music leads you to understand that King Khan and the Shrines’ 2008 compilation The Supreme Genius of … ranks among the greatest records of the 21st century, then (a) you already have Lone Ranger of Love or (b) you simply must obtain it.
With an even wider stylistic palette than Khan, Oblivian delivers tunes that explore a Stonesy vibe (“Fast Friends”), full-speed-ahead punk (“Boy in a Bubble”), Southern punkabilly that channels Jerry Lee Lewis without sounding like him (“Home in my Hand”), New York Dolls sleazy swagger (“Downtown”) and T.Rex- style glam with a jungle beat (“Blind Love”). And that’s just the first side of the album. Side Two opens with classic pop wrapped in barbed wire (“Stick to Me”) and continues with a warped rethink of spaghetti western-flavored soundtrack music (the title track).
The two-part “La Charra” hammers home the point that Oblivian has more great musical ideas than he has tunes to use them in. That embarrassment of riches makes for a consistently enjoyable, relentlessly rocking album. He channels Wolfman Jack on “La Charra Pt. 1” while the band – him on guitar, Keith Cooper on lead and bassist Frank McLallen and drummer Graham Winchester – lays down a groove that’s equal parts menacing and hypnotic. The tune’s second part is an instrumental featuring squalling lead guitar over the insistent, chugging riff.
The cinematic “Ride Like the Wind” shows the ease with which Oblivian can shift musical gears: it’s different from everything else on the LP – lots of piano – but it nevertheless fits snugly into the record. Ace guitarist John Paul Keith guests on the album’s closer, “Runnin’ from the Law,” a nod to classic cowboy country that’s a pure delight.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.