There are few things better in this world than an album release by one of your favorite artists. I was reminded of this one night while listening to The World Cafe. I heard a song that sounded remarkably like a John Prine song. After a few more seconds I knew yes this was a John Prine song. But I didn't recognize it and I have the complete collection box set. Then it hit me: John Prine has a new studio album coming out! As soon as I got home I checked to see when it was available. Not for a couple of weeks, drat. But not to worry I survived the wait and the album is now safely in my hands. And I can report that it was worth the wait. It is classic Prine and will go into regular rotation in my "listen often" pile.
John Prine is often referred to as a cult favorite. What this basically means is that he has millions of fans and yet gets little to no radio play on mainstream stations. One of the reasons for this is his genre defying music. Part folk, part country, part singer songwriter, part blues, part you name it. He can make you laugh, he can make you cry, he can make you dance, and he can make you think.
Fair and Square illustrates this eclectic nature well. It starts out with the folksy Glory of True Love, and upbeat easy going tune with foot tapping rhythm and mandolin riffs.
John Prine's quirky sense of humor and story telling lyrics shine in Crazy As A Loon, the song I heard on the radio. It's a country song that laughs at the stereotypical country song. And the lyrics will bring a smile to your face:
So, I headed down to Nashville
To become a country star
Every night you'd find me hangin'
At every honky-tonk and bar
Pretty soon I met a woman
Pretty soon she done me wrong
Pretty soon my life got sadder
Than any country song
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Great Review, thankee kindly.
2 - Temple Stark
This now has another venue for success - and more eyes - at the Advance.net Web sites, a place affiliated with about 12 newspapers.
One such site is here.
Even though it is a little delayed, also please let your contact know, if you had one, that this article, is published at one more place. That helps to show they get two?, three? for the "price" of one.
Thank you.
Temple Stark
3 - danny
yes man there is nothin like classic JOhn Prine I worship the very ground her walks. Theres nothing like the classic sound of Hello in THere or the lyrics of the Oter Side of TOwn his old and new is all classic and deserves to be classified up their with the best. I f you are going to have a varying music collection JOhn Prine is a requirement.