I first heard Beth Jean Houghton two months ago, and I was not exactly bowled over. It was her third album as Du Blonde, it was called Homecoming, and it just sounded amateurish and slight. Still, I found the whole thing intriguing enough to come back to the album later that month and find some of the year's most remarkable songs behind the short running time, cheap cover and half-baked production.
You see, what makes Houghton so special is that she can write a signature tune. "All The Way" has a melody of such hair-raising quality that my initial reaction was to burst out laughing. "Smoking Me Out" is worthy of anything written by Blondie. "Undertaker" is understated glam-rock that just sounds timeless. Come to think of it, even the Ezra Furman duet is so criminally catchy and well-written that you are willing to forget the shallow concept.
Houghton's first album came out in 2012, and was released as Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny. It was a competent record that lacked the songwriting punch. The punch came three years later. And how. At which point you should stop reading this piece and go get Houghton's first album under the Du Blonde moniker. You will not believe me until you hear it, of course, but let me put it this way: the eight song stretch that starts Welcome Back To Milk is one of the greatest I have heard in years. It is one classic song after another. Hard-rocking ("If You're Legal"), beautiful ("Hunter"), vulgar ("Young Entertainment"), seductive ("Raw Honey"). "After The Show", for instance, has everything - down to the Pachelbel inspired middle eight.
Lung Bread For Daddy (her album titles are slightly nutty, granted) could not hope to live up to that standard, but Beth Jeans's songwriting had not lost any of its charm or charisma. The hook-laden "Days Like These". The infectious "Holiday Resort". The lyrical "On The Radio" that closes the album. Best of all, however, is the classic single "Angel" that features a brilliant riff and a chorus to kill for.
Then came Homecoming (this April), and I finally discovered Beth Jeans Houghton. I suggest that you do too. Just look past some of those album titles, covers and video clips. They can be slightly off-putting. But then again - she has so much talent she can afford to be tasteless when she wants to.
