#375

Jackson Browne, Late For The Sky

Release Date: 1995
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen:  Yes

Impressions: Well, Mr. Browne…we meet again. I was pleasantly surprised by For Everyman. but didn’t quite dig The Pretender. So, let’s put on the tie-breaker … Title track sounds a little closer to “For Everyman,” so far, down-the-middle ’70s soft-ifornia rock. Slow start. “Fountain of Sorrow” picks up the pace a bit. Browne’s voice isn’t bad, but sometimes sinks into the background for me and comes off as inoffensive. I wish he was more direct, sometimes he sounds like Bob Dylan with the edges sanded off his voice. The playing is solid, almost painfully tasteful at times. Sigh, I wish this album was as simple as I either hated this or loved it. I kinda like “The Late Show,” with the enveloping backup vocals. Now for a boogie rocker in the vein of “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” nice change of pace. Not bad, a little cornball, but wakes up the album. Well, that didn’t last, as”For A Dancer” slows it down. “Walking Slow” has some sort of farting, reed instrument thing going on, but it’s a little funky and uptempo and has handclaps, even. Not bad. Nice violin. 

Starred Songs: “Fountain of Sorrow,” “Walking Slow”
Sneaky Tracks: “Possibly Maybe”

Should this be on the list: It’s quality, and the second side picks up, but I wouldn’t have put it on the list. He kind of bores me at first listen, maybe it’s a grower?
Will You Listen To This Album Again: Maybe
Replace with: Hoo… hrmm. I guess a better album in this folky sort of mode would be Beth Orton’s Central Reservation. Not sure it’s an “all-time great” but I’d much rather listen to this than Late For The Sky.

Summary:  Slow going ’70s singer-songwriter west-coast thing isn’t awful, but never caught my fancy. Browne, you’re 1-2 on this list!
Rating: ★★