Hope and Fury [Digipak], Joe Jackson, CD

Hope and Fury is the new studio album by Grammy-winning artist Joe Jackson, written and recorded between Berlin and New York City.
 
The album features nine new songs performed with Jackson’s longtime band – Graham Maby (bass), Teddy Kumpel (guitar), Doug Yowell (drums) – and Peruvian percussionist Paulo Stagnaro.
 
Produced by Joe Jackson with Patrick Dillett, Hope and Fury marks a return to what Jackson calls his “own mainstream”: sophisticated pop songs drawing from rock, jazz, funk, and Latin influences – or, in his words, “Bicoastal LatinJazzFunkRock.”
 
Opening track “Welcome to Burning-By-Sea” describes a fictional seaside town inspired Jackson’s hometown Portsmouth – a sharp portrait that becomes a microcosm of an entire country. “End of the Pier” contrasts British life in 1922 with its post-pandemic reflection a century later, while “I’m Not Sorry,” “Fabulous People,” and “Do Do Do” showcase Jackson’s trademark humour, from biting sarcasm to playful mockery. Other highlights include the bittersweet “Made God Laugh” and the tender closing ballad “See You In September.”
 
Musically, Hope and Fury recalls the spirit of 1982’s Night and Day, 1991’s Laughter and Lust, and 2019’s Fool. Like those albums, it overflows with great tunes, clever lyrics, and groove – with Jackson’s vocals and keyboard playing as strong as ever.