Johnny Dowd is always looking forward, even when he retraces his steps musically. On his new album Homemade Pie he is joined by long time collaborator Michael Edmondson and it marks the return of Kim Sherwood-Caso and Willie B who already on board on his debut album Wrong Side of Memphis in 1997. He has returned to an in-your-face, raw and organic sound, making it more urgent and vibrant than his previous albums, Twinkle, Twinkle, which was basically a solo record with lots of twisted electronics, and Family Picnic, a record that foreshadowed his current musical makeup. He is 73 now, quite content at being a critically acclaimed cult artist, catering to a niche who appreciate his one-of-a-kind lyrical imagery.
Dowd has always been a genre of his own, exploring the alleys connecting blues, country, vaudeville, funk, rock and maybe of dozen more. His songs are populated with losers, disgruntled, lovers, con men, players, and small time crooks. Thankfully they never show any signs of regret or remorse, which makes for far more interesting stories than gratuitous happy ending. Exhibit A: the title track Homemade Pie, the story of a sketchy salesman who gets shot and crucified. Exhibit B Shack: his Dad made every stupid mistake a man could possibly make, but he stands by his deeds, porudely proclaiming that he would do it all again, if he had the chance. Ladies is a lascivious, one-word rave-up that will get him cancelled by radio stations without a sense of humour. And there is Uncle Jimmy, who was a fun character taking him on fishing trips and let him smoke fags - he lifted the intro of Allen Toussaint's Fortune Teller to set the mood for this one.
