Born Again Savage
A classic second-in-command rocker in the tradition ofKeith RichardsandJohnny Thunders, Little Steven has also made a mark apart from his erstwhile boss, theBoss. The man also known as Miami Steve Van Zandt had a major hand in Southside Johnny's bar-band masterworkHearts of Stone, was the linchpin in 1985'sArtists United Against Apartheidproject, and lead his own group, theDisciples of Soul, for a time after his 1984 departure from the E Street Band. Largely out of the picture through the 1990s, Little Steven returns with a solo outing that rocks harder and is more inflamed lyrically than one might have expected from this long-AWOL warrior. Van Zandt's liner notes lay out his mission--to doff his bandana in the direction of the '60s rockers who helped shape his consciousness, fromCreamto theKinkstoJefferson Airplane. At the same time, he maintains the confrontational political stance that's been in evidence since the days ofSun City. Hence there's the title track ("Look around at the volunteered slavery") and "The Camouflage of Righteousness" ("We give you politicians and you call it a choice / We let you do the voting and you think you have a voice"). With thisSavageattack, Little Steven fights the good fight and remains standing.--Steven Stolder