James Taylor
October Road
Columbia

In high school during exam's James Taylor served as great respite from raw nerves conspiring against my insecure academic hopes. I swear I wore down the grooves of Sweet Baby James in the seventies during breaks from agonizing math sessions. October Road is not that different from 1970's Sweet Baby James - It's still James unpretentious tranquilizing voice telling his side of the story. Like Elton John's Songs from the West Coast or Big Swing Face from Bruce Hornsby this album serves as a reminder that maybe these guys are like fine wine. Taylor has always been a true singer-songwriter he was signed to the Beatles Apple records in the late sixties back when the acoustic thing was extra hip. Taylor has come full circle it seems with this new album - he's hip again and everyone is in on the hype around this release. I won't say it's his best in years since it's been years since he's released a bad one. His sound hasn't really changed either but with James Taylor that's always a good thing - we don't want him to change. Forty gold, Platinum and multi platinum albums proves that point. He won his latest Grammy last February and he is literally being welcomed back like the dearest of relatives, which says a lot in this fickle music business. Producer Russ Titelman who worked with Taylor on Gorilla (1975) and In the Pocket (1976) returns at the helm and the result is true James Taylor - introspective, understated and very stress-less. "These songs come from my life," Taylor says on his web site, "My life is full - full of family and friends and work. The reason that I talk about these songs as if they're someone else's is that I don't feel as though I wrote them, I feel as though I heard them. I waited and listened and I heard them. I feel strong about this batch of songs; they were worth waiting for." He is preaching to the choir. Some highlights include the melancholy 'September Grass' penned by guitarist John Sheldon- it has that thought provoking James Taylor hit single feel. James harmonizes with himself on the title track while Ry Cooder ads peaceful lead guitar and his old pal Michael Brecker's saxophone as always brings it up a notch. Taylor sounds like Lyle Lovett as he fools around at the beginning of 'Whenever you're Ready' - a sing along camp fire tune. Dave Grusin's heartfelt string arrangement on the jazzy jocular 'Mean Old Man' a story of how love can calm or train the most dismal Dan gives it that Jazz standards feel. Interestingly, Taylor opted to add a Christmas tune on this album. 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' is stripped and slowed down with Jazz guitar from John Pizzarelli. If you liked the other albums you will surely buy this one. - by John Beaudin