Customer Reviews

Anything Anytime Anywhere (Singles 1979-2002)

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My favorite songwriter/poet/musician is a guy named Bruce Cockburn. He's been a major influence in my life for 32 years. He has a new "Best Of" album out, and it's a great introduction.

The album includes a wide range of styles that cover a wide range of recording time. From the bliss of Wondering Where The Lions Are to the leftist politics of Call It Democracy to the spiritual dark night of the soul of Pacing The Cage to the sexual honesty of Lovers In A Dangerous Time to an absolutely perfect personification of the tantric idea of the juxtaposition of opposites in Tokyo and Night Train. And of course, because it's Bruce, it also contains some absolutely smokin' love songs, such as Last Night Of The World and the new Anything Anytime Anywhere. And there are the credo songs, the searingly honest Mission Statements of a truly spiritual being, like Waiting For A Miracle and A Dream Like Mine.

But it's another of the new songs that makes it worth the money. The song is called My Beat, and it's nothing more than a first-person narration of a bicycle ride around Bruce's new neighborhood in Montreal.

I simply LOVE this song! Part of it is the subtle presence of Hugh Marsh's violin after so many years away. Part of it is the absolutely *perfect* match of Bruce's voice with guest artist Patty Griffin's. But most of it is the fact that, in a tough year, this is one seriously HAPPY song.

It reminds me, in a strange way, of an old favorite Far Side cartoon. The scene is Hell, and two devils are watching this guy walking past, pushing a wheelbarrow. He's got this cool smile on his face, and is whistling as he works. One devil is saying to the other, "We've got to watch this guy...he's got a bad attitude." :-)

The sights Bruce passes on his bike ride are not all pleasant:

Past the derelict mattress
and the overgrown pavement
...
Past graffiti-bright buildings
and the junkyard alarm bell
and the screaming police cars
...
Past the drunk woman reeling
with her bag of provisions
Down through the tunnel
with the stink-fuming bus

But somehow it's Ok. And it's more than Ok, because "it's all present tense."

On to the bike path
where it's something like freedom
and the wind in my earring whispers
Trust what you must

Lovely. I can't, off the top of my head, think of a better song about the Zen-like magic of being totally into Now. And strangely enough, Now is eternal:

Ancient and always
The wheel's ever whirling

Today I'm riding
Tomorrow I walk
Step through forever
into this very moment
The heart is pumping
and the heart rocks

Mine too, Bruce. Thanks. Again.

Bruce Cockburn's "Anything, Anytime, Anywhere" is an outstanding single-disc anthology that collects enough first rate material to make the argument that Cockburn's name ought to be mentioned with the rock and roll elite of his era, despite his relative obscurity. Many people harp on Cockburn's leftist lyrics, but the same argument could be made against, say, U2, and Cockburn never wrote anything as silly as that U2 lyric about a fish riding a bicycle. The bottom line for any rock artist: is the music any good? And Cockburn's selections on this recording are very good.

The chronology starts out in the late 70s, fortunately, since that means it contains Cockburn's biggest single, "Wondering Where the Lions Are." It then moves through the 80s and 90s, hitting such high points as the angry "If I Had a Rocket Launcher," the danceable "Lovers in a Dangerous Time," the enviro-rant "If a Tree Falls," the sweet ballad "Waiting for a Miracle," and the ominously-titled "Last Night of the World." As with any artist who hasn't had a lot of singles chart success, some might quibble with a few of the selections, but every track included is at least solid.

Overall, a very generous sing volume anthology that greatly enhance's Bruce Cockburn's musical legacy.

This CD is a smart purchase if, like me, you have always admired Bruce Cockburn's work, but have been too stingy to purchase more than an album or two from his prolific catalogue. It's also a good introduction to those not as familiar with his body of work. It is, however, rather limited in its view, almost by definition. Being a "singles" collection, it focuses more on the commercially-tooled songs from his albums of the last 25 years, so it doesn't completely represent all sides of the artist. Still, there are memorable songs here, starting with "Wondering Where the Lions Are", his only U.S. Top 40 hit, from his breakthrough 1979 album "Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws"; all the way up to "The Last Night of the World" from his wonderful 1999 release, "Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu." All the previously-released songs are bookended by two new songs, "My Beat", and "Anything, Anytime, Anywhere." Cockburn has always written songs that make no secret of his political, environmental and spiritual views, and at times his lyrics do get a little preachy. But that's always redeemed by the excellence of the music in which it is presented. It's nearly impossible to adequately encapsulate an artist's 30-year career on one CD, but this one does a better job than most, and it's a pretty good way to get Cockburn a space on your CD rack. Buy this one, then if you want to expand your appreciation of this fine Canadian artist, buy the above-mentioned CD's, then try "Stealing Fire", "The Charity of Night", and "Nothing But a Burning Light".

Those new to Bruce Cockburn have picked the right time to discover him. Those familiar with Bruce Cockburn may wonder if this CD is worth the investment. It is. Even though some of the songs may have appeared on several other compilations, hits, or other recordings (i.e. Wondering Where the Lions Are, Coldest Night of the Year), Rounder Records and Bruce have managed to book-end the collection with two excellently crafted new tunes. "My Beat" and the title track are light-hearted contrasts to some of the political and social themes (Call it Democracy, If I Had Rocket Launcher). Some of the older songs are remixed and/or otherwise remasterd. The version of "Trouble with Normal" included is very similar to, if not the same as, the track on the hard-to-find "Rumours of Glory" Compilation Import disc. "Lovers in a Dangerous Time" has been given a little extra kick in the bass and drum tracks. Fans may wonder why certain personal favorite tracks were omitted; however, this CD provides a wonderful re-introduction to the Bruce Cockburn of the past, as well as, the Bruce Cockburn of the present. With such a vast body of material, I am sure it was very difficult to determine the chosen tracks. And fans can look forward to Rounder Record's campaign to reissue some of Bruce's previous releases as well as distribute a new release in the fall. "Anything, Anytime, Anywhere" provides a fitting introduction and culmination of this artist, to date.

Bruce Cockburn has been making music for over three decades, in which time he has released more than two dozen albums. That's a lot of material to cover, and "ANYTHING ANYTIME ANYWHERE" manages to be selective while covering a wide expanse of this Ontario singer-songwriter's career.

This package contains 14 of Bruce's best-known songs, sandwiched between two previously unreleased songs (one of them written recently, the other a few years ago). The newest one, "My Beat," is based on the songwriter's impressions as he rides his bicycle through the neighborhood he's recently moved into. This theme may explain why this album's cover art features Bruce toying with a spiffy mountain bike--though I doubt he normally rides in a full-length leather overcoat. I could be wrong.

As a little girl growing up near the Canadian border, I recall listening to Bruce's songs on the radio and being enthralled at his outspoken lyrics. "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" speaks of his seething rage at witnessing government brutality in Central America. "They Call It Democracy" is an assault on the new capitalist world order, circa 1986: he was taking on the IMF at least 10 years before other musician-activists jumped on this bandwagon. Sometimes during the 1980s Bruce let his passion get carried away, turning his songs into political tirades. Even so, they remain great songs and are as timely now as the day they were written.

His tunes from the 1990s are more mellow, but his social conscience pervades them all. Love, both romantic and divine, is a constant in Bruce's music. So is first-rate guitar work, and "ANYTHING ANYTIME ANYWHERE" showcases the diverse styles Bruce is capable of. This is a great way to get acquainted with an artist who's been underappreciated on this side of the border for way too long.

Don't get me wrong. I've been a Cockburn fan since "Wondering Where the Lions Are" back in the 70s. But, given that "Lions" is the only actual "hit" the man has had in the U.S., this admirable if spotty collection of singles doesn't really qualify as a best-of here. In fact, I would argue that it isn't a best-of anywhere. Like a lot of tragic-romantic singer-songwriters, Cockburn tends to go squishy both lyrically and musically when he writes about his own life and/or affairs of the heart.

On the other hand, in a string of albums beginning with Stealing Fire in 1984, he began to address political issues such as the depletion of the Amazon rainforests, the I.M.F.'s stranglehold on Third World economies, and U.S. foreign policy in Central America. These songs were/are as tough-minded, passionate, and prescient as any written on the subjects. They also brought out the best qualities in his voice and already-supple guitar work.

So, given that political commentary and righteous indignation are his true gifts as an artist, may I humbly suggest a political-only "best-of" to include the following:

1. "Lovers in a Dangerous Time" (one of his few great "the personal is political" songs)
2. "Peggy's Kitchen Wall"
3. "Nicaragua"
4. "Santiago Dawn"
5. "Where the Death Squad Lives"
6. "If I Had a Rocket Launcher"
7. "Call It Democracy"
8. "Gosphel of Bondage"
9. "The Trouble With Normal"
10. "If A Tree Falls"
11. "Radium Rain"
12. "Berlin Tonight"
13. "Tibetan Side of Town"
14. "Going Up Against Chaos"
15. "Civilization & Its Discontents"
16. "Dust & Diesel"
17. "World of Wonder" (to end on a hopeful note)

"Best of" collections are often difficult, and it is always most evident when it comes to artists like Bob Dylan, Van Morrison...and Bruce Cockburn. While it's hard to fault this gathering of work, still we're left with plenty to bat about, especially with the catalog that Cockburn has accumulated. This makes about the fourth compilation over the years, with Mummy Dust, Resume (not the same album, contrary to some misinformed reviewers), and Waiting for a Miracle having gone before. Nevertheless, even with the addition of Anything, Anytime, Anywhere, we're still waiting on one good representative collection showcasing the finest of Cockburn's work. Again, not that this isn't a good collection. It's just that there are some gems along the way that were unfortunate omissions, especially considering the fact that two new songs were included in the group. Just a few that should have been strongly considered would be After the Rain, How I Spent My Fall Vacation, Candy Man's Gone, Tropic Moon, Wanna Go Walkin', and Broken Wheel. Even from the more recent Charity of Night album, Get Up Jonah, Mines of Mozambique, and Strange Waters seem to me stronger cuts than the ones selected. It's hard, I know, and given the chance, each Cockburn enthusiast would have a different anthology. The best choice is to invest in the entire catalog, and happily, I hear that beginning this summer, most of the Cockburn albums are to be reissued in remastered form, along with some additional cuts. Not a bad time to act.

The first Bruce Cockburn (pronounced "coe-burn") album I bought was Stealing Fire in 1984. I then worked my way backward through his catalog and have purchased everything he's done since. In addition to being a fine singer-songwriter, Cockburn is also a heckuva guitar player. This 16-track mostly chronoogical overview from Rounder brings that into sharp perspective, beginning with 1979's "Wondering Where the Lions Are" (his only Top 40 US hit) through "Last Night of the World" from 1999's Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu. Only Stealing Fire and The Charity of Night are represented by more than one song. The only new songs are the two tracks that open and close this disc. As a career retrospective it is awfully brief for a career that spans more than three decades. There's nothing from his more folk-oriented period which covered most of the Seventies. [A more thorough retrospective was the True North import version of Waiting for a Miracle 1970-1987. It includes 33 tracks, including tracks 2 through 9 on this new anthology.] But if you're a fanatic like me, you'll want this new release just for the two new songs. If you're new to the artist, this is an excellent overview. RECOMMENDED

Bruce Cockburn is simply one of the best writers and musicians in contemporary music and has been from the get go. He has never had an erratic moment as a songwriter, singer, musician. For 30 years, Bruce has turned out records that have painted stories of romance, ethics, morality, politics, mysticism with a craft unmatched by anyone. You can go through his entire catalogue and there isn't a rum track anywhere. This latest compilation highlights a number of cuts from the past 23 years, and each of them is a masterwork. I'm not quite sure how these qualify as singles, but perhaps Rounder was fishing for a hook for its US release. As a distillation of a remarkable body of work, and as an indication of how his catalogue is being remastered, it is cause for great jubilation. I have all of the CDs and all of the vinyl, and I would still encourage any fan to pick this up. There are 2 new songs which bear all the DNA encoding of a Cockburn production - genius through and through. The prospect of rebuying all the CDs at first seemed unnecessary to me (like how many more times a year will Elvis Costello remaster the same stuff, with no appreciable improvement); however, there is a big difference in the sound of the earlier pieces on this CD compared to their previous incarnations. Rounder and Cockburn's camp are promising to include outtakes or unreleased material, which ordinarily, again as in Costello, is cause for distress (there usually is a sound artistic reason why an artist leaves a track off, and Costello proves it relentlessly). However, I am familiar with some of the unreleased material from his live shows and that is cause for celebration all in itself. Particularly, the prospect of complete or expanded versions of his live CDs, from "Circle In the Round" to "You Pay Your Money," is thrilling beyond description!!! (Rounder: how about a DVD or two, particularly from some of his live acoustic and solo tours????)

As to this particular collection, the songs are terrific, and illustrate why Bruce is held in such high esteem as a guitarist as well as a songwriter with very important issues to discuss. Particular favourites like "If I Had A Rocket Launcher," "Tokyo",
"Wonderin Where the Lions Are," "Pacing the Cage," can't help but remind me of other brilliant tracks from these CDs, like "Nicaragua", "Fascist Architecture," "After the Rain."

Cockburn has always assembled a phenomenal group of colleauges to help realize his vision, and his choice of bass players has been sublime always, from the early days of Dennis Pendrith and Rob Boucher to Fergus Jemison Marsh (Canada's answer to Tony Levin) to Rob Wasserman and on the new tracks, Colin Linden. Drummers suited to a Pet Metheny style of jazz accompany Cockburn across the broad range of styles, all in the service of a very unified vision, of music. And the appearance of Hugh Marsh on violin from time to time takes the whole proceeding to soundscapes of breathtaking scope.

In the end, though, it is the songs, any of which Dylan would and should give his eye teeth for. Cockburn is the genuine article. He lives and breathes the faith and ethics he espouses, and his work is inspirational, regardless of your own particular faith. I have often thought of his song, "No Footprints," and somehow if there were a tune that seemed to state where he is coming from at the core, this might be a good candidate. Thing is, though, his music, his lyrics, his very real commitment to morality, the environment, the politics and faith based issues upon which the world so often burns, all of these he has surveyed in extraordinary music that tends to leave a very large, deep footprint in the soul.

If you are new to Cockburn, go buy this, it is a wonderful distillation of a remarkable artist. If you have followed him as I have since the early days in Toronto, rejoice, this CD is a harbinger of a sonic reconsideration of the man's work, and it promises great things ahead, plus already, 2 terrific new tracks. Hands down, my vote as the best CD of 2002!

This new anthology is not a complete overview of Bruce Cockburn's career, since it starts with 1979's "Wondering Where The Lions Are," his first American chart success. Thus his earlier, mostly acoustic/folk albums are not represented. The ensuing albums for several different labels (in the U.S.) are each represented by one or two tracks each. As such it is an excellent introduction to the latter 20+ years of Cockburn's recordings. Two new tracks are included, "My Beat" and the title track.