Search - Jackson Browne :: Solo Acoustic 1 (Dig)

"Birds" Alone is Worth the Price of Admission

David Evans | Miami Beach, FL | 05/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own every Jackson Browne cd that has been commercially released. With a substantial cd collection, he remains one of my favourite artists. He has however, outdone himself here. From "The Barricades of Heaven" (a song which is fair at best in its original, studio form on "Looking East" but terrific here) through "Take It Easy", Browne gives a scholar's lesson on songwriting and sparse arrangements. With the inclusion of "The Birds of St. Marks", the listener is treated to a gut-wrenching, soul-lifting 5 minutes of pure songwriting genius, apparently 30 years after it was written. That track alone is so good that it prompted me to write this, my first ever review of many great cds in my collection. I suppose it helps to be a Jackson Browne fan to begin with, so if you are, you should pick this up, you won't be disappointed - you should be elated. If you're not a fan yet and you like mellow music, you'll no doubt like this, but it's not necessarily the place I'd start into JB. For that I'd recommend any of "Saturate Before Using", "Late for the Sky" or "For Everyman"."

Jackson Browne ISN'T Running On Empty!

t'amant | WA | 05/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From contemplative & poetic pieces of art such as The Barricades Of Heaven, Lives In The Balance or Too Many Angels, to feel good songs like Take It Easy, These Days and Bright Baby Blues (where he whips out the slide for a further demonstration of his guitar abilities - sounds like a steel guitar, track notes are sparse), the breadth of JB's personal talent (vocal, guitar, piano, songwriting) is highlighted in an effective way. Listen to how the nuances are nudged out of the original versions with a single instrument by way of a well placed chord (chord fragment) or harmony emphasis between vocal and instrumental melody - this guy is tuned in to the musical spheres. Some of the guitar arrangements are better than ever to my ears and expertly touch on every available smidgen of melody that can be wrung out of the original multi-instrument recordings. Jb's sense of timing is impeccable. I have rarely seen or heard a solo performance that does a better job of portraying the essence of a musician's vision in such a simple but beautiful way. We saw him live before the election with his full band and it was very fun (with Keb Mo and Bonnie Raitt).



This cd was a Christmas gift for my wife and she keeps it playing often around our house ... It has really grown on me, although I could see/hear that it was an excellent release from the first listen! I agree that more volumes will be greatly appreciated by fans since they contrast nicely with his usual rocky (and electric) sound. The sound quality is very clear and the production is intimate, he shares many funny thoughts between songs and gains a great rapport with the audience. Since we both love this one (that's what 5 stars means on Amazon), I can wholeheartedly say that this is a great pick, especially if you know the songs well! A gatefold case is provided, with few track notes and no lyrics unfortunately, but the classic Gibson guitar cases lined up make a fine inner centerfold picture for guitar lovers (now that's a collection!). About 70:45 minutes of calming, beautiful live classics lovingly presented for your enjoyment. Thanks JB for sharing so much (music and writing) with us for all of these years."

Definitive Solo Performance!

James Taylor | Miami, FL USA | 11/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a brilliant album, and one of the best reasons I've had lately to continue buying CDs. It's a showcase of a performer at his peak, and ample justification of his now-legendary status.



I must first commend Jackson on his courage. Few major artistes are brave enough to expose themselves and their musicianship in a live, solo effort. There is no backing band, no backup vocalists, and no studio gimmickry to cover mistakes. It's just the performer and his audience. This has to be the toughest type of performance, and Jackson nails it.



Browne is a superb communicator, keeping his audience riveted to his music, and entertained between songs with his funny stories and off-handed quips. Browne gives his all to his audience, and the audience loves him back. The energy is palpable.



This CD has not left my changer since it first arrived. I've played it almost every day for the past month, and each time I find something new to enjoy. There are so many great tracks, that picking one song isn't easy, but my current favorite is Fountain of Sorrow, with its sensitive interweaving of romantic illusion and reality.



Having recently suffered bereavement, of special significance to me is, For a Dancer, a song about death. The words resonate with me as I consider the loved one I lost, and the inevitability of my own death, "...in the end there is one dance you'll do alone."



Browne's versatility on both piano and guitar is impressive. His piano work on tracks like Birds of St. Marks, Fountain of Sorrow, and For a Dancer is soulful and understated, while his playing on bottle-neck and regular guitar shows that even after thirty years, the brother still has his chops. While his voice betrays hints of the weathering of age, it exhibits a richness and depth of expression that often accompanies artistic maturity.



This magnificent set concludes with a rocking rendition of one of Browne's most popular songs, Take it Easy. Having grown up with the Eagles' recording of this classic, Browne's rendition is my new favorite.



My only criticism of this CD is the absence of liner notes. When and where did these performances take place, and what's the background to these songs? We'd certainly like to know. That aside, this CD was worth every penny, and I can't wait for Volume 2.

"