Pleasure Club is an album by the American rock musician James Hall, released in 1996.[2][3] Starting over in the 2000s, Hall named his band for the album.[4][5]
Pleasure Club | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1996 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Label | Geffen Records[1] | |||
Producer | Phil Nicolo | |||
James Hall chronology | ||||
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Hall supported the album by opening for Rage Against the Machine on a European tour, and for Love and Rockets in the United States.[6][7] Pleasure Club's first single was "Honky Time".[8]
The album was produced primarily by Phil Nicolo.[9] Hall took more satisfaction from his live show, and regarded the album as a primer for what he could do onstage.[8]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Sydney Morning Herald | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Trouser Press wrote that "Hall’s singing is more ragged and urgent; he’s finally developed a distinctive vocal style of his own."[13] CMJ New Music Monthly stated that the album "finds [Hall] infusing a soulful, bluesy wail into a pastiche of '70s and '80s influences—sort of like what would have come after Raw Power if Iggy had followed Bowie into his Philadelphia soul phase."[14] The Times-Picayune deemed it "an edgy, post-punk, post-pop brand of new rock."[15]
Guitar Player determined that "guitarist Lynn Wright supports ... Hall with sizzling treble tones, an acidic, razor-edged attack and a healthy eclecticism that embraces psychedelic R&B, blues-infused punk and neoroots balladry."[16] The Sydney Morning Herald noted that Hall "has a sound sense of dynamics, knowing when to hold back, and when to let loose."[12] The Philadelphia Inquirer opined that Pleasure Club "catches Hall in somewhat reserved demeanor—at times, he sounds as though he's emulating Jeff Buckley's moody moves."[7]
AllMusic called the album "brilliant, powerful stuff," writing: "Much less obviously derivative than the Black Crowes or Lenny Kravitz, Hall's distinctive sound may remind you of the greats, but by album's end he's carved out his own niche."[10]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Pleasure Club" | |
2. | "Illingness" | |
3. | "Heatwave Radio" | |
4. | "Morninglust" | |
5. | "Honky Time" | |
6. | "Should Know Better" | |
7. | "Black is Black" | |
8. | "I'm Needy" | |
9. | "Back Stabbing" | |
10. | "Elevation" | |
11. | "Illustrated Babeis" | |
12. | "Use Me, Baby" | |
13. | "Need My Man" | |
14. | "So Precious" |