It made sense that
the Georgia Satellites reunited without
Dan Baird, especially since
Rick Richards' career as a
Ju Ju Hound disappeared along with leader
Izzy Stradlin. However, their comeback needn't have been as dispiriting as
Shaken Not Stirred. The band can still rock out, but they lack the wild, careening energy of their late-'80s heyday. More importantly, they not only choose to re-cover their version of
Joe South's "Games People Play," as well as
the Beatles' "Rain" and
the Faces' "My Fault," but "Battleship Chains" and "Can't Stand the Pain," songs
they made popular with their debut album. It's a weird move, and it's all the more uncomfortable considering the blandness of the new, original songs.
Shaken Not Stirred occasionally shows signs of life, but it should have been tougher and looser to be a truly triumphant comeback.
–
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi