[rating=7.00]
Tom Petty has a bucket full of accomplishments he’s been able to tout throughout his career. He’s a superstar by any and every measure, and accordingly, he’s worked with the biggest stars in the biz. His albums are certifiable classics and his tours with the Heartbreakers are hailed as something akin to the second coming. Surprisingly though, the one accomplishment that Petty is lacking on his resume is in the area of production. Although he’s certainly had a hand in his own efforts, he’s rarely ventured outside his comfort zone and taken the helm on anyone else’s efforts.
Consequently, The Shelters ought to consider themselves privileged that Petty’s consented to lend his hand to their debut disc. It’s not that their sound is particularly unique. It’s not. Rather it’s of the basic garage band variety (although ironically, “Fortune Teller” does bear a certain likeness to Petty’s early endeavors). Likewise, a cover of the Kinks’ “Nothin’ In The Would Can Stop Me Worryin’ Bout That Girl” also addsa kind of retro refit. Otherwise, most of the songs come across as fairly straight forward, with a handful of obligatory ballads providing only occasional respite. Petty’s presence isn’t especially pronounced — in truth, he shares his responsibilities with the band — and there’s no indication that his skills or savvy were taxed to any significant extent. Based on what’s evidenced here, the producers likely turned the recorders on and allowed the band to retrace their live set while the tapes rolled.
It’s somewhat significant that the Shelters share the same name as Petty’s first major record label, although there’s no conclusive proof that they did that intentionally. They’ll achieve enough notoriety simply having Petty’s name on the credits. Whether that will serve the purpose remains to be seen, but either way, the Shelters are sure to get attention from the get go. After that, it’s up to them to ensure the interest they garner remains fully intact.
