Album Review: The Gun Club — Fire of Love
Blixa Sounds released an expanded reissue of the Gun Club’s Miami in 2000, and now their similar treatment of the Los Angeles punk band’s debut album, Fire of Love, is getting similar treatment. Oddly – at least to these ears – it’s more accessible than the second LP. Yes, Jeffrey Lee Pierce’s open relationship with melody is on display, but the punk/roots hybrid that the group pioneered is supremely effective.
If you’ve ever wondered what it might have sounded like had Jim Morrison explored punk, blues and country all at once, “Preaching the Blues” might point the way toward an answer. The band sounds like it’s falling apart on “Promise Me,” but that’s clearly by design. “She is Like Heroin to Me” barrels along, careening wildly toward its finish in two-plus minutes.
There’s not much in the way of variety in the guitar sounds employed by Pierce and Ward Dotson; most of the tone colo comes via the whip-smart rhythm section of bassist Rob Ritter and drummer Terry Graham. That said, Dotson’s frenzied slide work on cuts like “For the Love of Ivy” is exciting stuff.
The original Fire of Love ran eleven tracks. Blixa’s reissue adds ten more to the first disc: alternate versions and demos, they’re thinner in fidelity bu have a similar energy to the official tracks. The second disc presents a 1981 live set at Club 88. There have been numerous Gun Club live releases over the years, but the one included here documents a very early performance.
Graham’s earnest liner notes are worthwhile reading, and the booklet contains some excellent photos of the band.
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.