Beetcafe.com
rockford illinois entertainment guide
Date: 10/17/2007
Arlo Guthrie - In Times Like These
Rising Son Records © 2007
www.risingsonrecords.com/
www.arlo.net
Reviewed by Gary Hill
gary@beetcafe.com
www.musicstreetjournal.com
Rating:
out of

Recorded live with a symphony orchestra (the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra), this is the latest disc from Arlo Guthrie and it might well be his best. For those thinking about checking him out this weekend at the Coronado, this would be a great way to get ready for the show.

The disc finds Guthrie stretching out a bit musically, wandering into old school jazz and blues, but it never stumbles or falters. Instead each track is a wonderful slice of music and texture, telling its tale with instrument and voice.  While there is nothing weak here, I’d have to say that a few tracks stand above the rest, at least in the ears of this reviewer. “In My Darkest Hour,” with its Dylanesque harmonica solo presents a great start to the album.  “St. James Infirmary,” feeling like a New Orleans Dixieland groove is another highlight. It might well be my favorite cut on the disc.

“Epilogue” is pretty and powerful with an almost classical approach. The one two punch of the powerful “In Times Like These” and “Patriots’ Dream” works extremely well. “City of New Orleans” has always been one of my favorites from Guthrie and this version definitely delivers with style.

All in all, whether you are an old fan or a new recruit to the legions of Guthrie devotees, you really can’t go wrong with this disc. If I’d have one complaint it would be that we don’t get any of the spoken wit of the man, but when the music is this good, that really doesn’t matter all that much. There are other discs where you can find that – here’s one to pop in and let the sounds wash over you.

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