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.
COLDPLAY
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS
Together
THE IGUANAS – If You Should Ever Fall on Hard Times
RICHARD X HEYMAN
Actual Sighs
PAULA COLE
Courage
Summer Cannibals
Show Us Your Mind
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