Blackhearts

I Love Rock-n-Roll, Joan Jett's first record with the Blackhearts, was a tougher, louder album than Bad Reputation, primarily because her new backing band gave her a more coherent sound. That dynamic, hard rock crunch is what made the title track into an international hit, but it also gives the album dimension – not only can Jett & the Blackhearts tear up heavy glam rockers, but they also pull off the mock psychedelia of Tommy James & the Shondells' "Crimson and Clover" with aplomb…

Album is arguably Joan Jett's strongest non-compilation release, featuring a consistent, freewheelingly wide range of material (which the Blackhearts really tear into) and punchier, more detailed production. Once again, Jett delivers strong, enthusiastic performances, but this time, the quality of the material lends her equal support…

From her days with the all-girl band the Runaways through her work with her own band, Joan Jett has been a pioneer, if not an innovator. She has always paid loving tribute to the riffy rock music that she loves. On album number six, Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth, Jett, backed by her Blackhearts, churned out more of the same, but with some of the most satisfying and strongest material of her career…

Released in conjunction with the major motion picture The Runaways, 2010's Greatest Hits is a double-disc, 21-track set that offers a basic overview of her hits with the Blackhearts and the work she did afterward, then adds re-recordings of her Runaways hits for good measure. These re-recordings were made for the movie, and are by and large heavier than the originals, so they get the collection off to somewhat of a leaden start, but once they give way to the original recordings, this is a good overview of Jett's basics…