As the frontman of the J. Geils Band, it seemed Peter Wolf hardly ever made a wrong move. Geils was an R&B-fueled rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse, and Wolf was at the center of it all, a charismatic singer and showman whose hipster persona wasn’t a put-on: He actually was that hip.
It’s been almost two decades since the Geils Band split up, caving in to the pressure of success while at the height of their powers. Wolf has released a handful of solo albums, but they’ve mostly foundered as he chose to follow current trends on them rather than set his own agenda.
With Sleepless, Wolf seems back in charge at last, turning in the rootsiest — and easily the best — of his solo works. “Nothing But The Wheel” is the sort of country-flavored driving song you don’t hear much anymore, and it doesn’t hurt to have Mick Jagger providing backup vocals on the tune. Keith Richards and former Geils harmonica player Magic Dick turn up on a raw romp through Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Too Close Together”, and Steve Earle chimes in on the country-soul “Some Things You Don’t Want To Know”.
But the album isn’t so much about the guest list. Wolf’s own performances, his selection of covers, and original material (written mostly in collaboration with Will Jennings) are understated rather than ostentatious. “A Lot Of Good Ones Gone” and “Five O’clock Angel” are fine, bittersweet ballads, and Wolf also scores with the warm, neo-doo-wop “Oh Marianne”, the Stax chestnut “Never Like This Before”, and a reworking of the Geils staple “Homework” that’s done here with a nod, a wink, and a playful growl. This is wonderful, winning stuff.
