"Sandy
Denny rejoins Fairport Convention" sounds like
a recipe for a great album. But, somehow, it
wasn't.
Perhaps it's because i just don't much like
several of the songs. I don't much DISlike
them either, and that's a recipe for apathy.
Of the songs that i DO like, i like a couple
of them quite a bit, indeed -- as songs --
though i must agree that the production to
some extent detracts even from the songs i do
like.
That said, the title song is wonderful,
Trevor's "Iron Lion" is one of the better
railroad songs i've heard in a while, "White
Dress" is almost achingly beautiful, "Stranger
to Himself" is almost Dylanesque in its
apparent symbolism, and, as others have
remarked, "One More Chance" is a soaring
wonder that shows what this band COULD have
done, if they had been allowed/elected to soar
to the heights that they could
reach.
Sandy was only to be with us for a little
while longer; it's sad that she and the band
didn't take this chance to get together, rare
back and fly.
That all having been said -- if you are at all
a fan of Fairport, Sandy Denny or both, this
album is one you need, if only for the title
song and "One More Chance".
(The cover, by the way, is one of the prettier
and more evocative of all the Fairport album
covers)
A Later Note (11/26/05):
Probably this album should be considered in
tandem with "Before the Moon", a
recent 2-disc set presenting two live shows
recorded on the US tour that supported this
album. (The Atlanta gig on that tour was
cancelled at the last minute.) I haven't heard
it yet, but it sounds like a fantastic set.
An Even Later Note (1/02/06)
It is, it was, and you
should buy it. |
