Although his band,
Jackyl, has issued albums consistently since the early '90s, singer
Jesse James Dupree found it necessary to issue a solo album in 2000,
Foot Fetish. When a rocker steps out to issue a solo album, it's usually because the tunes in question are a bit of a departure from his longtime band. This is certainly not the case here.
Foot Fetish (which contains a very
Spinal Tap-esque album cover -- a tribute to Smell the Glove, perhaps?) is chock-full of the same Southern-fried metal boogie that has long been
Dupree's trademark. Songs such as the album-opening "Mainline" and "Losing My Mind" would've sounded splendid on Headbanger's Ball circa 1989, while a metallicized cover of
Sly & the Family Stone's "I Want to Take You Higher" (listed here simply as "Higher") closes the album.
Jackyl fans -- as well as fans of '80s hair metal -- are sure to enjoy
Dupree's solo debut. ~ Greg Prato