If you’ve ever regretted your decision to break up with someone, Joni Mitchell’s “River,” which finds Peyroux joined by k.d. lang, will tear your heart apart. Their voices ooze the pain brought on by second thoughts about choosing to let go of “the best baby/ That I ever had” through your selfishness. Plus, you can’t go wrong with Mitchell’s superb lyrics; the economy of her words to relate such a powerful story is amazing. Look for this in the duet category at the Grammys.
A new song that should reach classic status is “Once In A While,” an affirmation that someone is moving on from a bad relationship. It’s no one’s fault, or maybe it is both people’s fault that they stayed together longer than their love existed. She informs that they’re not all bad memories because “when I think of your kisses, I’m still gonna smile/ I’m still gonna miss you.” Some days even she’ll “wake up/ wondering why we gave up,” but that’s to learn from past mistakes not to re-open that door because luckily, “once in a while/ Comes and fades away.”
The album also contains Peyroux covering Fred Neil’s “Everybody’s Talkin’” from Midnight Cowboy, Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” from Modern Times, and the title track by Leonard Cohen. Through the use of a pedal steel guitar, Tom Waits’ “(Looking For) The Heart Of Saturday Night” becomes a country song. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Peyroux album without her singing in French; this time it’s Serge Gainsbourg’s “La Javanaise.”
Once again, producer Larry Klein does a fantastic job augmenting Peyroux. The band is a perfect compliment to Peyroux and special mention should go to Sam Yahel on Wurlitzer piano and Hammond Organ, and Jay Bellerose on Drums, though he should really be credited as Brushes.
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