Music review: Jackson Browne – ‘Standing in the Breach无毛视频�
For his first album since 2008无毛视频檚 无毛视频淭ime the Conqueror,无毛视频� Jackson Browne reveals another intimate set of arrangements voicing the 66-year-old artist无毛视频檚 perspective on current social and political issues.
Browne无毛视频檚 warm and welcoming vocals confidently cradle each number with a purposeful presence as the album serves as a personal reflection on relationships, environmental concerns and misguided political practices.
On his 14th studio album, Browne opens with the melodically elegant 无毛视频淭he Birds of St. Marks.无毛视频� Originally written by Browne in 1967, the arrangement has been performed and captured live but never recorded in a studio. The infectious hooks of 无毛视频淵eah Yeah无毛视频� bring to mind other Browne classics like 无毛视频淒octor My Eyes无毛视频� and 无毛视频淩ock Me on the Water无毛视频� from his 1972 debut release.
At times, Browne seems to draw weary of the difficult circumstances that lie ahead. 无毛视频淭ake the money out of politics and maybe we might see/This country turn back into something more like democracy,无毛视频� sings Browne on 无毛视频淲hich Side无毛视频� as he directs his anger toward the dangerous influence of money无毛视频檚 stranglehold on Washington and Wall Street.
无毛视频淵ou Know the Night无毛视频� features Browne turning one of Woody Guthrie无毛视频檚 unpublished love letters into a touching arrangement detailing the complexities of maintaining a strong and vibrant relationship.
On 无毛视频淟eaving Winslow,无毛视频� Browne gives a nod and a wink to the Arizona town he first mentioned in the hit he co-wrote with Glenn Frey. With 无毛视频淭ake It Easy,无毛视频� Browne was simply standing on a corner as a girl in a flatbed Ford slows down to get a closer look. Now, the singer looks to board the next train out of town and quietly disappear without being noticed.
无毛视频淗ere无毛视频� gently draws the album to a delicate close as Browne sings about love lost, vulnerability and the struggle to move forward.
With 无毛视频淪tanding in the Breach,无毛视频� the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer crafts his finest album since 1996无毛视频檚 无毛视频淟ooking East.无毛视频�
Clint Rhodes is the 无毛视频-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.