“There’s too much bulls*** everywhere!” declares STEVIE KLASSON in “Goin Mental.” Bovine by-product ain’t something you’ll find much of on Don’t Shoot the Messenger. The Swedish musician’s tenures with JOHNNY THUNDERS, DIAMOND DOGS and HANOI ROCKS shaved off any penchant for excess, leaving only rootsy rock & roll. Klasson’s friends ( PATTI PALLADIN, BRADY BLADE, members of the HELLACOPTERS, THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES and the FLAMIN GROOVIES) add horns, keyboards and harmonies, enhancing the star’s guitars and CHRIS BAILEY-like burr. The sneering putdown of “Talk Too Much” shimmies up to the starved romance of “Sweetheart Angel Pure;” the celebratory rave-up of “Bedspring Symphony” bumps the hard-earned self-satisfaction of “Lucky.” Cocksure swagger cuddles with bruised romantic yearning as Klasson unselfconsciously adopts the rock & roll myth. It’s a story that never gets old.
http://myspace.com/stevieklasson
http://www.locomotiverecords.com
