Jackson Browne and David Lindley at The SageSINGER songwriter Jackson Browne is one of the finest musical exports of America's West Coast.
Part of the 1970s Californian rock generation, Browne's best songs are highly melodic and lyrically thoughtful.
But in truth, most of those best songs are contained on precisely two albums, Late For The Sky and The Pretender.
Thankfully, both albums were well represented.
But after an enjoyable first half, which saw Browne teaming up with his old multi-instrumental buddy, David Lindley, the concert proper started shakily, with several newish songs marred by over-insistent drums and bass.
Thankfully, five songs in, the gig really took off with In the Shape Of A Heart, closely followed by Your Bright Baby Blues.
From that point on, Browne never put a foot wrong, with Too Many Angels and the classics For A Dancer, Before The Deluge and Sky Blue and Black the highlights of a two-hour masterclass in quality songwriting.
TERRY KELLY
Shields Gazette, June 9, 2010.
I agree - except that I'm Alive is a pretty decent whole album if you drop the awful attempt at 'reggae' (and I like Lives in the Balance - same problem with the 'reggae track, though).
ReplyDeleteTypical dodgy sound mix at The Sage for the first few songs of the second set. I think the bass in everything was way up. Even when he was talking, it was difficult to make out what he was saying, but when he sang Shape of a Heart, everything came together and the show took off.
Much as I can see Lindley is devastatingly good, I couldn't have listened to too much more of his solo set. An awful lot of it was like, "Hey, look what I can do..." He was far better employed as part of the band in the second 'half' and gave the show an extra dimension, musically. Terrible shirt!