Joan Jett and the Blackhearts / Sinner / CD Review

Blackhearts Records

It’s been quite a while since Joan Jett last released a full length CD. The wait has been worth it. She’s taken tracks from her Japanese release Naked and expanded it to present Sinner. The trademark energy and snarl are all here. She’s managed to create an album that sounds classic and stands up to her past glories.

The album kicks off with Jett’s knock on the Bush administration with “Riddles.” Despite the somewhat clunky lyrics in places, the sentiment is received loud and clear. Politics aside, Jett shines when she just rocks out in a sleazy way. A choice cover of Sweet’s classic “A.C.D.C” is the highlight of the album. She has all the swagger of the original with just a hint of irony dealing with her oft rumored lesbianism. A claim she’s never official rejected or confirmed. She digs deeper into the questioning on “Five” where she asks “Do you want me to come out, ready or not, do you want big proof, is that what you need.” However, she can’t define desire. The ambiguous “Fetish” is easily the hottest groove heavy track to come out in years. “Watersign” is a straight up power ballad that could have easily come out in 88. What’s interesting is that it doesn’t sound out of place on this disc.

Jett and her Blackhearts show that they’re more than capable of delievering the same intense power pop punk that they were at the beginning. It may have been 25 years since Jett declared her love for Rock and Roll, but Sinner proves she’s just as passionate about it now.