Those outside of Jesse Malin may not be as well known to the New York music scene. The punk and hardcore pioneer turned gritty troubadour of the streets never really had a mainstream hit, despite writing some of the most melodic songs of the last two decades, starting with his 2002 debut. The high art of self-destruction. Nevertheless, he has made some heavyweights into fans: On the 2007 album Glitter in the gutterhe sang a duet with his soulmate Bruce Springsteen and wrote and recorded his 2019 LP, Sunset Childrenwith the American songwriter Lucinda Williams.
Both singers lend their voices to the Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malina massive tribute album in which more than 35 artists – including Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Bleachers, the Wallflowers, Susanna Hoffs, Alejandro Escovedo, Tom Morello, Ian Hunter, Butch Walker and Counting Crows – put their own spin on 28 of Malin’s compositions from across his career. An observational, poetic songwriter with a talent for effortlessly weaving pop culture Easter eggs into his lyrics, Malin excels at giving voice to dreamers, tricksters and relentless believers. He himself has been all three, particularly the latter since suffering an extremely rare stroke in 2023 that affected the function of his legs. Silver Patron Saintsproduced by Diane Gentile and David Bason, is released as a benefit album for Malin’s recovery, with all proceeds going to his artist fund Sweet Relief.
The name of the record – which is available both digitally and as a 3-vinyl set – comes from a text from the Glitter in the gutter Track “Prisoners of Paradise,” performed here by Bleachers. In Jack Antonoff’s hands, what Malin conceived as a hard-hitting rock number becomes a dizzying, atmospheric trip filled with reverb and layered vocals, setting the tone for an album that encourages reinvention.
Hoffs adds some Bangles “Manic Monday” vibes to “High Lonesome,” Tommy Stinson and his daughter Ruby turn “Ridin’ on the Subway” into sonic cinema (complete with live subway sounds), and Spoon reimagines “The Way We Used to Roll” as indie rock without losing the bite and elegance of the original. Aaron Lee Tasjan’s “Shining Down” is played here as a beautiful, hushed prayer.
Dinosaur Jr. gets particularly creative on one of Malin’s best-known songs, the ode to the suburbs “Brooklyn.” J Mascis replaces the song’s acoustic engine with his inspired strumming, delivering the lyrics slightly behind the beat.
Silver Patron Saints also includes more faithful versions of Malin’s songs. The Hold Steady heat up “Deathstar” with cutting guitars and the sing-song vocals of frontman Craig Finn: “Well she finally met a man and she moved into the light/she got a little money because he dresses to the right,” he barks in Malin’s commentary on capitalism and conservatism. Graham Parker, whose “Three Martini Lunch” Malin often covered, finds the country core of “Greener Pastures,” a highlight of the 2021 double album Sad and beautiful world. And Counting Crowes deliver an intoxicating version of “Oh Sheena,” a gliding power-pop number with singer Adam Duritz in impeccable form.
Closing the album, a trio of punk greats pay tribute to Malin’s groundbreaking work in the bands Heart Attack and D Generation: Rancid are all hyped up and angry on “No Way Out,” Agnostic Front fire up “God Is Dead,” and Murphy’s Law, led by Malin’s longtime Ride or Die bandmate Jimmy G, cover “Frankie.” The attitude is genuine.
While the curious will probably jump straight to Springsteen’s soulful interpretation of “She Don’t Love Me Now,” a groovy vamp that originally appeared on New York before the waror Armstrong’s faithful interpretation of “Black Haired Girl”, a blast of pop-punk from Sparklethe listeners should take a closer look at the whole thing. Silver Patron SaintsNot only will you uncover some excellent songs, but you will also develop an understanding of the distinctive New York artist who wrote them.
