CHRIS REA - Road Songs for Lovers
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This is the 25th studio album from the charismatic yet thoroughly down to earth Chris Rea and despite his ever so slightly slurred vocals that gorgeous gritty timbre and the music remain as tantalizing, and as good as ever. I had felt trepidation about listening and was avoiding it – worrying about that voice and his enunciation – you can definitely hear that something has changed, and initially I thought it would bother me, but the magical and wonderful thing is that the enormous humanity and personality of this man, not to mention his impeccable musicianship, almost imperceptibly entices you in; after a short while, any anomalies just seem to disappear and with a sigh of relief, you slip right into the warm, comforting arms of his unique artistry.
The album is a mixture of rock and ballads, not quite as blues oriented as a lot of his recent output; my perception is that there is a plenty of breathing room – he’s not in a hurry to go places – it’s a journey, but a leisurely one. I think it's a grower and will command respect.
I really hope he recovers from this latest medical setback – he’s overcome such vast odds already, but I read that he hadn’t planned this new album – that it happened sort of organically, as they sometimes do, so if it turns out that this is to be his last release, I’m exceptionally glad it’s a worthy one.
Rea’s favourite track from the album, and mine (on first listening) – the poignant “Last Train” … he does seem to like the choo choo’s doesn’t he? Mind you – being a wheels enthusiast, it’s hardly surprising … I quite like them too!
This is the 25th studio album from the charismatic yet thoroughly down to earth Chris Rea and despite his ever so slightly slurred vocals that gorgeous gritty timbre and the music remain as tantalizing, and as good as ever. I had felt trepidation about listening and was avoiding it – worrying about that voice and his enunciation – you can definitely hear that something has changed, and initially I thought it would bother me, but the magical and wonderful thing is that the enormous humanity and personality of this man, not to mention his impeccable musicianship, almost imperceptibly entices you in; after a short while, any anomalies just seem to disappear and with a sigh of relief, you slip right into the warm, comforting arms of his unique artistry.
The album is a mixture of rock and ballads, not quite as blues oriented as a lot of his recent output; my perception is that there is a plenty of breathing room – he’s not in a hurry to go places – it’s a journey, but a leisurely one. I think it's a grower and will command respect.
I really hope he recovers from this latest medical setback – he’s overcome such vast odds already, but I read that he hadn’t planned this new album – that it happened sort of organically, as they sometimes do, so if it turns out that this is to be his last release, I’m exceptionally glad it’s a worthy one.
Rea’s favourite track from the album, and mine (on first listening) – the poignant “Last Train” … he does seem to like the choo choo’s doesn’t he? Mind you – being a wheels enthusiast, it’s hardly surprising … I quite like them too!
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson