James Taylor Before This World (CD, Concord Records, 2015) ***
They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6
Active compensatory factors: Listening to a lot of James Taylor albums, as I am currently doing, has resulted in a few things become apparent. He didn't vary much over the decades, his vocals retain that warm smoothness without showing much wear and tear - he hasn't abused his vocal cords, his albums are mostly a couple of good songs and then some okay ones, and the pace of songs varies from slow to slower with an occasion jolting faster paced song.
October Road certainly conforms to all those JT tropes. Best song is the first - September Grass, followed by second song - October Road. The rest is JT on his usual course. Hard to argue with him, he's earned the right.
It's all done in good taste with soft rock/gentle jazz chill sounds. Easy to put on while dressing the tree or eating Christmas pudding.
Where do they all belong? I won't be looking to plug gaps in my collection so no American Standard - his album of covers from 2020. Next up in the JT collection: live albums and compilations.
Genre: Folk rock, pop, soft rock
Places I remember: CD record club, JB Hi Fi, Starbucks
Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: September Grass (October Road)
Gear costume: Wild Mountain Thyme (Before This World)
Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: September Grass (October Road)
Gear costume: Wild Mountain Thyme (Before This World)
Active compensatory factors: Listening to a lot of James Taylor albums, as I am currently doing, has resulted in a few things become apparent. He didn't vary much over the decades, his vocals retain that warm smoothness without showing much wear and tear - he hasn't abused his vocal cords, his albums are mostly a couple of good songs and then some okay ones, and the pace of songs varies from slow to slower with an occasion jolting faster paced song.
The Christmas album is a no-brainer and amazing that he hasn't thought of this before given Michael Bublé's success in this genre. The AllMusic critic sums this one up well - James Taylor's brilliantly titled James Taylor at Christmas is about as inoffensive a collection of seasonal classics as one could hope for. The legendary singer/songwriter's warm voice is the perfect vessel for "Winter Wonderland," "Jingle Bells," and the "Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" because it makes absolutely no impression on the listener.
The covers album - also brilliantly titled - Covers, done for Starbucks, works when JT tackles songs by fellow singer-songwriters but not so successful when he has a go at rock'n'roll classics in a non-rock'n'roll fashion. That means a boomer generation thumbs up for Wichita Lineman, Shiver Me Timbers and Suzanne.
My final studio album is 2015's Before This world. It came out 13 years after October Road and was commercially successful - reaching #1 on the Billboard charts. It's a good JT album - cozy, but not too cozy (like the Christmas album). Ironically, my highlight is a cover - Wild Mountain Thyme.
Where do they all belong? I won't be looking to plug gaps in my collection so no American Standard - his album of covers from 2020. Next up in the JT collection: live albums and compilations.
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