PASSION,
BOOTS & BRUISES - Ian Rilen & The Love Addicts (Phantom)
Ian Rilen is a man who needs no introduction here at the bar – his exploits
with X and his solo work have been well covered here before. Passion Boots
& Bruises sees Rilen back on guitar and vocals showcasing 
his
talents both as a performer and songwriter backed by his Melbourne based band
the Love Addicts who are Kim Volkman on lead guitar, Sean Docherty on bass
and Tony Biggs on drums (although Cathy Green is currently on bass duties
for the live shows).
"Passion Boots & Bruises" is an album of dirty sleazy bluesy
rock that packs one hell of a punch – it’s songs about drinking,
fucking up in love and life, the joys of escape from a bad relationship and
wanting to wreak vengeance with a shotgun.
The album opens with “Booze to Blame” (a rework of the song originally
recorded with Hell to Pay) it kicks in with a dirty guitar riff and a heavy
bottom end, it chugs like a big V8, the power is there and the feel is that
at any moment the accelerator could be pressed and you end up pinned back
in your seat… it’s a bar room anthem telling the story of love
gone wrong… culminating in the chorus “it’s a shame –
Booze to Blame!”.
Other standout tracks include “Happy”, “Inside Out”,
“Goldmine” and the country tinged title track. There is also a
bonus live version of “Bad Boy for Love” recorded in 2003 at an
acoustic show at the Surry Hills Excelsior – if you like your music
passionate and gritty this album is for you.
Ian Rilen once again demonstrates he remains one of the finest songwriters
and performers in Australia – this is a man who has lived the rock and
roll lifestyle – many are surprised he is still living at all.
Passion Boots & Bruises captures Rilen’s live sound better than
Love is Murder or the Hell to Pay album. It’s full of simple well-structured
songs that leave you feeling deliciously dirty just for listening. It doesn’t
get much better than this.
- Richard Sharman
1/2