Consumer Guide Album

The Jim Carroll Band: Catholic Boy [Atco, 1980]
Two big differences between Jim and Patti--Patti has no jump shot and Jim's a boy. Hence the title, I know, 'cept women get away with this kind of fringe/decadent hero/survivor myth/boaster better than men--it's fresher for them, not such a line. Face it, Jim's a phony--a moral weakling who's been charming suckers ever since he ran away from home. And if that's not the end of it, well, charming suckers takes talent--a lot easier to get by tending bar. He's got a great eye, a great memory, great connections. He knows how to put himself across. And he wrote "People Who Died." B+