2005-03-22
John Doe is something of a renaissance man.He builds on this reputation with this, his 5th solo recording. Now, please don't lump John in as being Waits-ian just because he's an actor and has a dark, interesting personality. Rather, think of Bruce Cockburn. Smart as a whip, adventurous, genre-bending, and somehow equally optimistic and pessimistic. That must mean he's seen the world.
On the new disc, Doe paints a dusty American scene with help from the likes of Dave Alvin, Grant Lee Phillips, Neko Case and Kristin Hersh. Though these are somewhat Big Name artists, they make no attempt to re-write the songs in their image. Instead, they seem to be augmenting John's best batch of songs yet out of humble respect.
It'd be easy to say there's something here for everyone - rockers, acoustic performances, electronically-enhanced tunes... it's a winner.
Linus.
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB
Specter at the Feast
SHELBY LYNNE
REVELATION ROAD
SHANNON WHITWORTH & BARRETT SMITH
Bring It On Home
Novella
Change of State
Locksley
Don't Make Me Wait
THE CAT EMPIRE
Two Shoes
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