Plugged In

by Stephen Thomas ErlewineReturning to the one-man band approach of his early records, Dave Edmunds crafted a fine comeback with Plugged In. Though his method is similar in execution to Subtle As a Flying Mallet, the impact is different, primarily because he has stripped away much of his Spector-ian pop influences and sticks to a menu of ready-made roots-rockers. Alternating between covers and originals, the song selection is solid, even if only a handful of songs stand out. Among the highlights is an exciting version of Jerry Reed's instrumental "The Claw," a sweet cover of Al Anderson's "Better Word for Love," and the sunny pop of "Beach Boy Blood (In My Veins)." While the studied, solitary performance on Plugged In can be a little stiff, it's songs like these that make the album his best record in years. Still, "Sabre Dance '94" was entirely unnecessary.