The '90s weren't kind to
Jimmy Barnes. Apart from much-publicized money problems that saw him leave Australia for two years in the middle of the decade, the advent of grunge saw his style of music become completely unfashionable.
Barnes tried to counteract this with albums like
Soul Deep (a collection of soul covers) and
Flesh and Wood.
Flesh and Wood was
Barnes' attempt at an unplugged album, and featured such other Australian rock luminaries as Diesel,
Tommy Emmanuel, and
Archie Roach. While it contains some of
Barnes' own material and some covers (including Cold Chisel's superb "Flame Trees"), few songs here manage to match the originals; fewer still eclipse them.
A competent album that shows a more sophisticated side to
Barnes that was hinted at with
Soul Deep,
Flesh and Wood does not hold too much interest for the casual fan. ~ Jonathan Lewis