Though Joe Henry is still probably best known as the
man behind the early-'90s classics Short
Man's Room and Kindness of the
World (and as Madonna's brother-in-law), since the
beginning of this decade, his own recording career has
taken something of a backseat to his other musical
pursuits. As a producer, he's helmed various soundtrack
projects (Knocked Up) and
singer-songwriter records (Aimee Mann, Ani DiFranco) and
has even helped revive the careers of soul veterans like
Solomon Burke and Bettye LaVette. In between all that
activity, he's turned in his second album for the hip Los
Angeles imprint Anti-, following 2003's chaotic character
study Tiny Voices. The new disc
finds Henry in a more pensive and political mood, as songs
like "Civil War" and "Time Is a Lion" implicitly and
explicitly offer views on the current states of war and
peace, love and hate. For connoisseurs of craft, Henry's
writing is an absolute joy, drawing effortlessly on classic
pop, roots, and folk traditions and alchemizing these
various strains into a single, sweet sound. Aiding in his
effort are a group of tasteful studio hands - including
pianist Van Dyke Parks, guitarist Bill Frisell, and Dobro
player Greg Leisz - who imbue the tracks with a warm,
lived-in quality that serves to highlight Henry's sharp
narratives and deceptively complex melodies. -
B.M.
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