Mott was so good that the sequel, appropriately named
The Hoople, has been unfairly dismissed as not living up to the group's promise. No, it doesn't compare to its predecessor, but most records don't. The bigger problem is that
Mick Ralphs chose to leave during the supporting tour for
Mott, leaving
Ian Hunter as the undisputed leader of the group and subtly changing the character of the band's sound. Even with
Hunter as the band's main songwriter,
Ralphs helped shape their musical direction, so without a collaborator in hand,
Hunter was left without a center. It isn't surprising that the record seems a little uneven, both in terms of songwriting and sound, but it's hardly without merit. "Roll Away the Stone," a leftover from
Mott, is first-rate; "Crash Street Kidds" rocks viciously; "The Golden Age of Rock & Roll" is a pleasant spin on
Bowie-esque nostalgia (think "Drive-In Saturday"); and
Overend Pete Watts follows through on that theme with "Born Late '58," a perfectly credible rocker. This all makes
The Hoople an entertaining listen, even if it doesn't compare to
Mott's earlier masterpieces. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine