Am I the only one who thinks Joe Henry has no peer?

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Every couple of years a new Joe Henry record comes out, and I get on my soapbox. Nobody can touch Joe Henry for pure excellence in the songwriter-rock domain. His cinematic inventions, both musically and lyrically, redeem the entire idea of songs for me with each new record.

This year's is exhibit Tiny Voices, and Don Byron blows all over it in most excellent ways. It is an advance on the brilliant Scar. Let's not even talk about his genius production on the Solomon Burke disc.

I have bought 20 discs in the last week and this is the only one I am going to listen to.

― southern lights (southern lights), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Er, discuss if you want to. I need company.

― southern lights (southern lights), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:29 (twenty-two years ago)

About half the time, he hits me where I live. I'm always yammering on to people about the greatness of Trampoline. The other half of the time he misses me, or at least I get tired of waiting for the hit to take effect.

For example, I prefer Madonna's "Don't Tell Me" over his "Stop." Maybe if he wasn't so seemingly seduced by murk of all kinds, he would score better, at least around my house.

― Lee G (Lee G), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 20:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Man, Trampoline is so good it hurts. It seemed like a great leap forward for all of songwriter music at the time.

I like his murky direction. I love that version of "Stop". This new record is still pretty murky but with more horn action courtesy of Don Byron (who is often multitracked, playing some interesting charts).

― southern lights (southern lights), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

This is way better than "Scar," in my opinion. That record seemed like someone forgot to bring the tunes...this one manages to do that murky-jazz thing without seeming like a stupid posture (an achievement of itself) and at the same time be an amazing singer/songwriter record. This *is* fine...shame people are likely to ignore it.

― M Specktor (M Specktor), Thursday, 2 October 2003 21:00 (twenty-two years ago)

four months pass...

I agree with M Specktor, I had Scar and sold it. About half of the songs were worthy. The new one is much more solid with less filler.

― Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Monday, 23 February 2004 02:35 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

i quite like scar. the smoky room/echo effects are a bit artificial though.

― titchyschneiderMk2, Monday, 5 November 2007 13:24 (eighteen years ago)

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