Since the release of the self-titled LP "Justin Trouble" this guy is a mystery to me. Probably from New York, souding sometimes like Byrds "east-coast revisited", also akin to the pop-tinged r'n'r of Sylvain Sylvain or even of Jim Basnight's Moberlys, the guy was well and truly highly inspired for hooks and melodies. Kind of elegant pop with street credibility if this means something ! The 17 tracks of the (first) LP alternated fresh melodic rockers (with Johnny Thunders-like guitar licks) and echoed ballads. A perfect soundtrack for urban romances. His ballads carried the same charm and fragility you could hear in "So Alone" : somewhat of a nostalgic tone slightly timeless. Definitively worth seeking... Fans of more r'n'r-oriented stuff (read Thunders-oriented) should investigate his first single "No love"/"Ponytail", released prior to the LP. Dolls affiliation for sure, because not only did Johnny Thunders produced and co-wrote "No love", but he often had the band open shows for his Heartbreakers. Actually "Justin Trouble" was the first record released, the second having beenreleased under the flickname Justin Love a year later.[PG]
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