Search - James Taylor :: Never Die Young

More good stuff from a master

Connery | FL, USA | 08/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My goodness, did the man ever release a bad album? Never Die Young is simply another shining example of James Taylor's incredible talent. He has that ability to make even the most mediocre of songs sound like brilliance. This is just more of the same.



"Never Die Young" is a great way to open this album up, cool, like Taylor. It maintains a steady disposition throughout the whole song, and has his signature all over it. "T-Bone" is slightly different. Maybe a little bit of country influence is hidden within it, but by no means overboard. How can you explain it other than it sounds like James Taylor? But he seems to carry this very slight country edge through some of these songs, like in "Runaway Boy". This song has a great, smooth opening that busts out with fiddle and rhythm. Maybe some of these songs would sound slightly off if it weren't for that so gentle voice of sweet baby James. But they're all grand. "Baby Boom Baby" is once again cool, with a saxophone, and its one of my favorites. Now "Valentines Day" is a very interesting take to me. A very subtle song, it sort of weaves our celebrated Valentines Day with sophisticated insinuations of the St. Valentines Day tragedy created by the infamous rival gangs of Al Capone and "Bugs" Moran all those years ago. So Taylor weaves a little history into a brief moment. Sound strange? I'm sure it does, but take my word that this song is sophisticated and gentle. One of my favorites. "Sun On the Moon" is upbeat and unique. Once again, difficult to describe other than 'signature Taylor'. Its a good song, but unfortunately it, like almost all of these other songs are not immediately associated with James Taylor. Well lets face it, he had so many other great hits that some are bound to get lost in the shuffle. "Sweet Potato Pie" is probably his most remembered from this album. Taylor did a duet of it with Ray Charles on Ray's duet album with other various artists entitled "Genius Loves Company". I urge you to check it out. The last three tracks on this album are mostly mild and all just as good as the other. I like "Home By Another Way" the best out of them, but they're all worth the listen.



So this is just another 5 star album by a very gifted artist. We can alway use more of sweet baby James, and this is a welcomed addition. If you like James Taylor then I'm sure you will agree, and if you don't know the man very well, this is a great opportunity to.



Thanks James."