Customer Reviews

Hourglass [Enhanced CD]

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Hourglass is the latest offering from James Taylor, although he is rumored to have a new CD entitled "October Roads" due out soon. This is by far one the best of his albums in recent memory, with a number of classic new songs. This is an especially terrific album given the fact that he has been around so long, and such an endless resume of previous accomplishments. Yet Taylor continues to amaze and amuse us with his personal growth and his incredible gifts for observation and songwriting. After all these thirty some years, he still is a master of his craft.

The first song up is a wryly amusing yet poignant song called "Line `Em Up", with references, among other things, to Dick Nixon and his arrogant presentations to the common folk and to the self-absorbed way he exited the White House stage. Next is a lovely albeit sad song called "Enough To Be On Your Way" intended to be a tribute to his brother Alex, dead too soon from an self-abusive and ultimately self-destructive lifestyle. This song is a very thoughtful and searching exploration into the realms of love and loss, and is also a loving portrait of a person (Taylor turned his brother into a female character for dramatic purpose in the song) whose path was always drawn like a moth to the flame.

It also includes his very popular "Little More Time With You", and a number of other interesting and stylistically diverse songs. His interest in the whole earth mother realm in "Gaia" is especially well written, as is "Another Day". This is an album you will play and replay, and it wears well with time. Of course, my favorite here is "Enough To Be On Your Way", which, with some of the songs from his last several albums, is sure to be included on the "James Taylor Great Hits, Volume Three" we can hope will be on the horizon in a year or so. Meanwhile, though, enjoy this one.

It is surprising when an entertainer and an artist so long in the business suddenly delivers a round-house punch like that contained in this wonderful release by James Taylor, who after more than thirty years recording gives us this autumnal delight by way of "Hourglass". I have always been impressed by Taylor's obvious literate intelligence, playfulness as an artist, and willingness to go out on that limb that I am sure people have told him not to venture out on. But he carries it off very well here, with what is certainly the best new work by him in more than a decade. I say "new work" because his live album (overdue by about a decade or so) released in the mid 1990s was a wonderfully fresh and consummately professional rendering of two CDs worth of his favorites, and is one I play regularly.

This new work, on the other hand, stands out as a surprising reconfirmation of just how talented, resourceful, and timeless Taylor is, and how endless his appeal seems to be, as well. From the opening strains of the wry and ironic "Line `Em Up" to the poignant and heartfelt "Enough To Be On Your Way" (a paean to his complex and troubled late brother Alex Taylor), Taylor leaves us in breathless enthrall at his ability to tell stories with a bittersweet twist, always saying more than what is strictly in the lyrics with his delivery, and employing that simply damned awesome acoustic guitar work that anyone familiar with his signature style can pick up as uniquely Taylor's at a virtual whisper from a hundred yards away.

This is a whirlwind trip through a lot of new territory, and while there are some new styles employed, fresh subjects broached, and variations in the lyrical path chosen to tread our way through, all of it is absolutely true to the comfortable authenticity Taylor always carries in his omni-present bag of professional tricks. Taylor has had a rough roller-coaster ride through life in the nineties, and he has mined these personal experiences like the artist we always known him to be, giving us precious nuggets of memorable lyrics wrapped, as always, in lovely melodies and superb arrangements. This one is pure Taylor magic. I highly recommend it, and after listening to it, I'm sure you'll agree. Enjoy!

Honest! I did count thirteen cuts on this with no mention anywhere of the thirteenth one.

Just to say that this is a great album doesn't seem to quite cut it. This is a living legend, the performer who led a whole genre of music originating in the 70's. This is a singer who exemplifies the mood of the 70's and as the years go by, gives us fresh perspectives of that period. And now in Hourglass, at the turn of a new century, he looks back and shares memories. As always, he surprises us with his manner of expression. He communicates his feelings at a companion's funeral, at the changes from the Nixon 70's to the present space age, at today's relationships.

There is lots of extra, unexpected talent here from his guests. Yo-Yo Ma on the cello, Stevie Wonder on the harmonica, Branford Marsalis on the Soprano Sax, Sting and Shawn Colvin on vocals.

Standouts include "Little More Time With You", "Jump Up Behind Me", the classic "Walking My Baby Back Home"...and yet what on this set is not a standout?

Okay, as usual, this is for James Taylor fans, and indeed the number of those is ever increasing. If you're familiar with James Taylor's music, don't pass this up. And if you're not, well, give it a try.

With Hourglass, James Taylor explores the world around us through the eyes of a deep feeling skeptic-- a romantic despite his pragmatic views. The songs range from slow and soulful to wistful and upbeat and I personally enjoyed his pairings with other artists. One of my favorites is "Jump Up Behind Me" with Sting. It's perfect music for "finishing up those reports" at home. James always leaves me wanting more, Hourglass is no exception. Buy it.

James Taylor's album Hourglass has some of the most varied sounds and styles on it. Granted his "Mean Old Man" is quite a masterpiece (as are many of the other tunes on October Road), Hourglass contains more variety (IMHO), such as the etherial "Gaia" or the yearning "Another Day," as well as some French ("Ananas"), a song for his late brother Alex ("Enough To Be On Your Way"), and a cover of Liv Taylor's "Boatman." His rendition of "Walking My Baby Back Home," an old standard, is done with class. There is even a few quirky pieces, like "Yellow and Rose" and "Jump Up Behind Me." So many of these tunes have such character (as well as the fact many are varied in keys - October Road has a lot in E and B). Both are equally well made, but Hourglass lets things flow (for example, on October Road, the sizzle cymbal(s) hush(es) prematurely - it would seem more natural ringing longer). October Road also has strings ("Mean Old Man" would have been all needed) or similar drum patterns on way too many tunes. I will say that October Road also has some very exquistite design (the cover, the booklet, etc.). Get both and compare like I did! Enjoy!

JT has never sold out like alot of other Artist.His music is still on his own terms,and everyone of his records are hits."Hourglass" has got to be one of his best.Every song has a different story.Usually you play a CD,and 10 of the 14 cuts are love songs.The tape starts out with the line,"I remember Richard Nixon back in 74,tiny tear in his shifty little eye,he said,noboby understands."How can you not stop wondering what else is on this record?There are so many wonderfull numbers, I could write about every one of them.My favorites,the beutifull ballad,"Gaia," really gets to my heart,"Ananas," with Michael Brecker on Tenor Sax,would have been a nice top40 hit,and the song I love the most,"Up from you life."When you get to the last number,the 1930 classic,"Walking my baby back home," that James sings like it was written today,(My Mom use to sing this song all the time)you think its the last song from the CD.If you wait about 40 seconds,another song,not listed comes on.I have no idea what its called,but its so funny.It sounds like RawHide,with wips and cowgirls singing background.This has got to be JT's greatest album,and I can't wait for his next one.

This is one of a very few cd's that I have become almost addicted to. I have always loved James Taylor's music, but this cd is really awesome. His voice is incredible and the songs are so well done. I can never hear this cd enough. Beautiful songwriting!

A tremendous peice of work from an ageless performer. Taylor shines brighlty with an incredible array of work. The lyrics compell you to think deep within and convey a sublime spiritual message. Great contemplation music. Thanks JT!

I have been listening to James Taylor since his earliest works in the 60's/70's, and have always admired how he strikes a perfect ballance of deep down and funky, with heartbreakingly sweet. This in combination with his magnetic poetry has made him my all time favorite musician over the years. I keep waiting for him to burn out...but as the years pass, as the man becomes more seasoned as a human being, so becomes his music. Hourglass continues to strike this perfect ballance of intelligent, funny, sweet lyrics with that classic yet timeless 'welcome-home' JT musical accompanyment. In recent years, James Taylor has seemed to pick one or two oldies to re-do on each new CD. Hourglass features a rendition of "Walking My Baby Back Home" which would make any woman kill to be his "baby". Also outstanding is his hit, "Gotta Spend Just A Little More Time With You," with the delicious harmonica accompanyment of Stevie Wonder, as well as a soulful tune, "Boatman," which in reliable JT fashion reminds us of what makes life grand. Another fun feature on this CD is that when put into you computer's CD rom, will show you clips of interview-ettes, mini-performances, and follow along lyrics to songs on the CD. Big fun. Even if you're not a big JT fan, this CD has so much more to offer than most musical thumbtwiddling you hear on the radio.

I have never heard James Taylor before I first listened to Hourglass. This cd is great. Walking My Baby Back Home, Jump Up Behind Me, and the hidden track. The music on this album reaches from contemporary to melodic rock songs. James has a great band is a great guitar player. The songs on this album are memorable. I didn't know James has been making albums since 1970. He looks in his 20s or 30s and sounds older then he looks. He has a nice voice and can really carry on a tune. I think he will sing and make music for the rest of his life and I hope he does. I don't really like this kind of music but I liked this cd. I usually listen to metal and punk rock but I stray away sometimes for something good. This is some good rock music that isn't on the charts. Buy this. You won't regret it.