Over the last twenty or so years Brian Setzer has seamlessly transformed himself from the rockabilly guitar slinger to the silky smooth Vegas band leader. Gone are the rock'n'roll fist-in-the-air anthems of his teenage Stray Cats years, replaced by a Dean Martin like cool, earning him several Grammy awards along the way.

The Rat Pack swing of 'Songs From Lonely Avenue' is delivered from the heart with each of its twelve songs lovingly crafted by Setzer alone. The concept of this album is apparently to be the soundtrack of a film noir movie that was never made but, while the opening track 'Trouble Train' does kick a little rockabilly ass, but the album soon descends into one silky sweet show tune after another. And therein lies the problem for me, the album is neither exciting or compelling, it just winds along in a semi-easy listening nether world of nothingness. It may stike a chord with the older jazz loving market and probably will sell a bucket load given the right exposure but Über Röckers beware, it's all just a bit...well naff really.

Get on to YouTube and check out the video for 'When The Sky Comes Tumblin' Down' from 1988's 'Live Nude Guitars' and remember Brian how he'd rather you didn't. Priceless....

www.myspace.com/bsetzer

http://www.myspace.com/briansetzer

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