AMG Review of Bait and Switch [Bonus Track]

John Duffy
All Music Guide

Another irreverent, punkish set from the king of sleaze rock, Bait and Switch contains almost no surprises for fans of Andre Williams' predictably wild and raucous R&B. Backed by a garage band featuring the aggressive guitar of Matt Verta-Ray and the greasy, growling tenor sax of Lonnie Youngblood, Williams belts his tales of double-standard misogyny with the same enthusiasm as his early singles back in the 1950s. Fans of music that denigrates women will find "Sling It, Bang It and Give It Cab Fare Home" appealing, but Williams also goes far enough to balance the tables with the hilarious "Put That Skillet Away" (his lover is not cooking with it, but threatening to beat him). Long-lost brother to the late Screamin' Jay Hawkins or thug rapper born 40 years too early, Williams is still a treasure of the American rock underground. [The expanded edition offers one bonus track: "Burning the Roses"]