Fair & Square

John Prine | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 26, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Oh Boy
• ASIN: B0007VROHE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,309 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Good things come to those who wait. During John Prine's nine-year interval between albums of original material, fans who hailed his recovery from cancer wondered whether he'd ever return to full creative speed. Here, Prine puts doubts to rest with an album that ranks with the finest of an inspired career. The big heart of "Glory of True Love," the socially conscious bite of "Some Humans Ain't Human," the reflective grace of "Taking a Walk," the wry whimsy of "Crazy as a Loon"--the hallmarks of Prine's artistry are reaffirmed on Fair & Square. The album also reflects Prine's first attempt at producing himself, with the warmth of his rough-hewn vocals finding a comfortable fit among the organic, largely acoustic arrangements. Though Prine penned 12 of the 14 cuts (including two bonus tracks, one recorded in concert), a pair of covers prove revelatory: Blaze Foley's "Clay Pigeons" sounds like it could well be one of Prine's own (with a melody that recalls "Hello in There" and a lyric of renewal that sounds like personal testament), while A.P. Carter's "Bear Creek Blues" carries an electric charge as the traditional song rocks harder than anything else on the album. With a generous selection of close to an hour of music, the album stands as a creative triumph for Prine, a fully satisfying effort that rewards the patience of his loyal fans. Welcome back. --Don McLeese

Product Description

John Prine takes his own sweet time dancing with his muse -- and truly writes what's in his soul. So if it takes him a little longer to write the songs that capture moments and reveal the gently folded human truths that bind us all together. It's always worth the wait. Now, nearly nine years since the release of his Grammy-nominated Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings, the iconic American writer has put the finishing touches on his latest offering, appropriately titled, Fair & Square. "It was just time," says Prine in his always understated way. "I had a bunch of songs. I'd started recording them, and it turns out, I liked them pretty well. So, now, I get to get them all just the way I like them - and then I get to let them go out to meet the world." With the occasional wheezing accordion, curlicue electric guitar parts, quick-wristed mandolins, billowing B-3 pads and puddles of pedal steel guitar, the rough-voiced singer/songwriter's first self-produced record is a homey affair that draws generously from the palette of traditional American music -- be it folk, bluegrass, shuffles, vintage rock & roll, torch, country -- for an amalgamation that would be at home on any Wurlitzer in a whiskey-soaked tavern with beer signs flickering from age and the walls stained deeper than sepia from the years of constant smoke.

With bluegrass queen Alison Krauss on the ode to his Irish refuge "My Darlin' Hometown", the street corner desolation of "The Moon Is Down" and alt-country princess Mindy Smith bringing allure and tartness to "Morning Train," "Long Monday" and the melted neon ponder of "Taking A Walk," Fair & Square is the work of a man at ease with his life, secure with his place in the world and willing to share the things that he sees. "It's been a while, so I'm pretty excited," Prine admits with that Oh Boy grin. "And that's a really good place to be."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

115 of 124 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new classic, July 26, 2005

By 

PKM (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fair & Square (Audio CD)

I notice the two negative reviews I've seen here are both upset because of JP's anti-Bush stuff on "Some Humans Ain't Human." Specifically, he says "...some cowboy from Texas, starts his own war in Iraq..."

Oh....please. This is a guy who's been anti-war, anti-establishment and anti-a-whole-lot-of-other-stuff since he's been writing music. Maybe you'll recall "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore," from his first album, or "Take the Star Out of the Window," from his second album. There's a lot of them. Either you haven't been listening, or you've just got your head so far up Bush's (...) that you're unable to hear any honest criticism without throwing the baby (an outstanding album) out with the bathwater (your political views). This is still America, more or less, and the guy has every right to say what he feels.

I've been a big Prine fan since the mid 70s, and used to go see him live with Steve Goodman back in the day. For my money, this is one of his best albums. His voice has aged (go figure), but not in any way that detracts, for me. His soul shines though on these tunes, and a few of them are really just beautiful.

I'm so happy he seems to be on the other side of his throat cancer, and is still on stages, grinning.

99 of 112 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome back to Prine territory, June 4, 2005

By 

David T. Steere, Jr. (Annapolis, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fair & Square (Audio CD)

It's been a number of long years but well worth the wait. Who writes better songs? A great record in its own right and a fine introduction to those essential themes Prine has been working with since the 1970's. John's unique love songs: "Glory of True Love," "Long Monday," and "She is My Everything." His home and homesick songs: "My Darlin' Hometown" and a great cover of Blaze Foley's "Clay Pigeons." John's satirical eye and social conscience: "Some Humans Ain't Human" and "Crazy as a Loon." The relationship troubles we can all laugh at and identify with: "Taking a Walk," the bluesy "Morning Train," "The Moon is Down," "I Hate it when that Happens to Me," A.P. Carter's "Bear Creek Blues," and "Other Side of Town." John's sense of humor is as sharp and wonderful as ever and appears throughout. He has the most recognizable song writing voice-even when co-writing (which he does on seven of the songs here). There are two numbers with John's trademark talking/singing and a live number recorded at the Ryman Auditorium. If all this weren't enough, there are other great voices in addition to John's deep and gravelly one:: Mindy Smith and Alison Krauss doing harmony, Phil Parlapiano's ever present accordion, a great chorus on "Taking a Walk," a "call and response" group on "Safety Joe," many wonderful acoustic and electric guitar players, and a host of fine instrumentalists.

AND SHE LOOKED ME IN THE FACE
LIKE SHE NEVER DID BEFORE
I FELT ABOUT AS WELCOME
AS A WAL-MART SUPERSTORE (from "Taking a Walk")

SOME HUMANS AIN'T HUMAN
SOME PEOPLE AIN'T KIND
YOU OPEN UP THEIR HEART
AND HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL FIND
A FEW FROZEN PIZZAS
SOME ICE CUBES WITH HAIR
A BROKEN POPSICLE
YOU DON'T WANT TO GO THERE...

OR YOU'RE FEELING YOUR FREEDOM
AND THE WORLD'S OFF YOUR BACK
SOME COWBOY FROM TEXAS
STARTS HIS OWN WAR IN IRAQ (from "Some Humans Ain't Human")

CONSTANTINOPLE IS A MIGHTY LONG WORD
GOT THREE MORE LETTERS THAN MOCKINGBIRD
YOU PUT ME ON A MORNING TRAIN
YOU PUT ME ON A MORNING TRAIN
AIN'T NO NEED TO EXPLAIN
YOU PUT ME ON A MORNING TRAIN (from "Morning Train")

SHE KNOWS EVERYBODY
FROM MUHAMMAD ALI TO TEACHING BRUCE LEE HOW TO DO KARATE
SHE CAN LEAD A PARADE WHILE PUTTING ON HER SHADES IN HER MASARATI
SHE KNOWS EVERYBODY (from "She is My Everything")

WELL I ONCE KNEW A MAN WHO WAS GOING INSANE
HE LET LOVE CHASE HIM RIGHT UP A TREE
IT TOOK THE POLICE AND FIRE TRUCK JUST TO BRING HIM BACK DOWN
I HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS TO ME (from "I Hate it When That Happens to Me")

A CLOWN PUTS HIS MAKE-UP ON UPSIDE DOWN
SO HE WEARS A SMILE EVEN WHEN HE WEARS A FROWN
YOU MIGHT THINK I'M HERE WHEN YOU PUT ME DOWN
BUT ACTUALLY I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN (from "Other Side of Town")

Prine fans will recognize the Prine voice in the above excerpts. Newcomers should "loosen up the buckle on your heart and start to chuckle" (from "Safety Joe").

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If I weren't a Prine fan..., January 9, 2006

By 

nate - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fair & Square (Audio CD)

...I'd fall in love with "Fair & Square" anyway. But I've been a John Prine fan for years, and I think this may be his best since his 1st album over 30 years ago. That's saying alot because Mr. Prine's 1st album is one of my favorites of any style in all of time. I grew up as a rock/funk/jazz fan and never cared much for country or folk music (Merle Haggard & Johnny Cash being 2 of a small handful of exceptions).
It would be redundant to repeat all the other reviews describing the songs, so here's why I like "Fair & Square" so much: aside from having all the elements that make John unique (wry wit, lyrics that make you think, etc.), his voice gives these tunes a dark, sentimental - even innocent charm. It would be tough for anyone else to give the same songs the same flavor. Also the melodies are refreshingly simple, as are the instrumental arrangements. "The Glory of True Love" bounces along with a friendly vibe, then out of nowhere, the mandolin takes a dark minor scale solo and the guitar lurches out with the rockabilly blues, then right back to happy again. But ain't love just like that? Therein lies the subtle genius of Prine.
Jason Wilbur plays what the old folks call "sideman", a term for lead guitarist of a famous name (Scotty Moore was Elvis Presley's sideman, Don Rich was Buck Owen's sideman, etc.). Mr. Wilbur has much to do with taking these songs to a unique refreshing place. I saw JP in concert supporting this album accompanied by Jason Wilbur (electric guitar) and Dave Jacques (stand-up and electric bass). Taking nothing away from Dave, but Jason displayed some amazing chops - not fast, but different. Steel guitar licks, interesting double-stops, triple string bends, drew enthusiastic applause from the audience after many of his solos. I mention this because this kind of playing is all over the album as well.
Do yourself a favor and trust me on this one. It's a great album by anyone's standards.