Kickin' It Old School

FISH GRIWKOWSKY, EDMONTON SUN FREELANCE

DAMN THE TORPEDOS (1979) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
MCA
5 out of 5

Amid wrangling with label control - which almost became the man's hobby - Tom Petty's third-album breakthrough was an awesome, solid rock kickoff to a distinguished career that few could say is annoying, unlike the work of so many of his sagging contemporaries.

Even though nasal-singing Petty has receded to the shadows these days, he continues to bring us great albums, tight in composition, always interesting. They don't make songs like Refugee any more, which you can easily picture Mick Jagger singing in front of half a million people in Rio - pretty impressive for the work of some goofy-looking kid from Florida.

Tom Petty's comes off a nice loser stoner and his lyrics are often about the way love doesn't really work that well most of the time, like on the seminal Don't Do Me Like That. You Tell Me is a secret gem. I don't need to tell you Petty basically worships the foundation of rock 'n' roll, including constant flirting with blues, R&B and country sounds - not to mention membership in the Traveling Wilburys. Tom Petty is a guy you want to hang out with, and his records have yet to sound dated.

Sean's comments: I agree with his (God, I hope there aren't any women out there with that first name!) opinion of my favorite album, but should a guy with a last name like Griwkowsky be calling someone goofy-looking? How do you pronounce that? Buy a vowel Fish!