Originally
published in The Aquarian Weekly
March 19, 2008
Jackson Browne / Solo
Acoustic Vol. 2
Inside Recordings
Jackson Browne is the
embodiment of
the early Õ70s
singer-songwriter
movement. While that may
be a decidedly
mixed blessing, for a
significant number
of people his songs seem
to be hardwired
into our DNA.
To follow-up 2005Õs ÒSolo
Acoustic Vol.
1Ó, Browne once again
crisscrosses his
30-plus year career,
presenting ÔSomething
FineÕ from his
self-titled (aka ÒSaturate
Before UsingÓ) debut
album, and closing
with ÔMy Stunning Mystery
CompanionÕ,
from his most recent
studio album, ÒNaked
Ride HomeÓ. There are
acoustic versions
of his hits like ÔSomebodyÕs
BabyÕ, and
FM favorites like ÔRedneck
FriendÕ. He
plays moving versions of
ÔSky Blue And
BlackÕ and ÔAll Good
ThingsÕ from his
classic breakup album, ÒIÕm
AliveÓ. The true
standout though is the
shattering ÔIn The
Shape Of A HeartÕ from
the Lives In The
Balance album.
It is a daunting task to
appear before
an expectant audience
armed only with
an acoustic guitar or
piano, but Jackson
Browne easily pulls it
off with all the charm
that has made the
southern California
native a revered figure
to so many people.
While I look forward to
Vol. 3 of this
beautifully recorded
series, IÕm also
anxious to hear some new
Jackson
Browne songs in a band
setting.
In A Word: Graceful
Grade: A-
—by Ken Shane