Customer Reviews

Reverie

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Joe Henry deserves more fans.

The 3-time Grammy winning producer/singer-songwriter/all-around-genius keeps making stunning albums. I truly do not know how he does it. Every time a new album of his comes out there's at least one song that makes me say "This is the most beautiful song I've ever heard" (Want Too Much, Flesh and Blood, Wave). But no, then he goes and releases another album and there's a whole other selection of most beautiful songs to choose from.

I hate to say things like this, but I think this is his best since "Tiny Voices," an album which people seemed to love or hate (why? loved it).
That said, I loved Civilians and enjoyed Blood From Stars, but those 2 are in a different league. Reverie is intimate, and emotional. I don't smoke anymore but this album makes me want a cigarette, and a road trip, and to call up people I haven't seen in years.

Reverie is all acoustic, but reviewers keep calling it his "rock" album. I don't agree. Like all Joe Henry albums, you can't pick one genre, the best you can do is say he combines folk/jazz/rock/pop and blues into some kind of beautiful Americana. I think this is why people keep comparing him to Tom Waits (me included), because how do you define that type of music?

Joe is also a poet. Let's take the song "Eyes Out For You" (my current vote for most beautiful song). The rhyme scheme on this song is perfect, and yes I spent a good part of my day yesterday studying it. And it's not just the rhyme, but the lyrics, brilliant as usual, and then the actual music. Other stunners on the album include: Heaven's Escape, Strung, Sticks & Stones (probably the most blues track), Grand Street, Deathbed Version, Tomorrow is October, Unspeakable -- ok you see where I'm going here, I'm almost listing the entire album. I can't get enough of his voice on this album, he seems to be using it as more of an instrument; he is full on singing more and he sounds great. Something about Tomorrow is October even reminds me of Sinatra, though who knows why (anyone?)

As you will read in all the reviews of this album, Joe recorded this in his home studio again, and this time literally left the windows open. Therefore you hear background noises -- and it's delightful. There are several dogs in the background, and someone calling what I assume is their dog. At one point it sounds like a dog is howling/singing along with the band, so please don't tell me otherwise, because I've convinced myself it is. And I love it. It makes the album a more intimate experience, like back when Tori Amos used to leave the breaths on all her albums instead of editing them out. It makes everything more real -- half the time I can't tell if it's a background noise on the album or something outside my own porch door. Am I in the song? I believe I am.

I don't even know what else to say -- how do I convince you? Joe Henry is one of the greatest lyricists of our time and he is unknown by most of the world. It is devastating. But those who are familiar with him, those who know -- they know. And we remain an exclusive club of fans.

Thank you Joe.

"oh well farewell to arms
and to all we might be
farewell to this endless confused reverie
somewhere there's a heaven
for you and for me
but oh won't you please tell me now
just how, my love, will we escape"
- Heaven's Escape

I've been listening and absorbing Reverie for a few weeks now. It's an altogether outstanding piece of work. It's as good, and, in some ways, better than the utterly fantastic works he's done in the last 10 years. If you're looking for songs to love on the first listen, may I suggest Odetta, Sticks & Stones, Tomorrow is October, and Eyes Out For You. But there are other songs that take a bit longer to unfold. And, oh my, they are well worth the effort.
Some of the songs on Reverie feel loose and rambling....even though what they are made of -melodies, exquisite musical flourishes, astute lyrics--feels very carefully measured out. As always with Joe Henry, there's a range and blend of styles.
What it all adds up to is masterful music. Reverie is layered, intimate, raucous, truthful and lovely. I'm grateful for these songs. There may not yet be legions of Joe Henry fans out there in the world, but for those of us who are in the know, each new Joe Henry lp is a milestone and a true cause for celebration.

This will probably become my favourite Joe Henry-album! Especially his songwriting gets better and better, and the musical production is flawless! A real treat for every americana afficionado.

Yes, he's done it again (just read that somewhere). Joe Henry's
recordings are works of ART. There's the music, there's the lyrics, there's the
performance - and together they provide a tableau of aural delights. Entertainment
for months repeated listenings trying to get into it. His more recent recordings are like
a thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail, or sitting down to a 1,000 page book, or driving cross country on two lane roads.
You laugh, you cry, and then you shake your head and wonder how this guy creates this amazing material every couple years. And I'm very happy he creates this music. It makes living this crazy life a little more enjoyable.

If you are a fan of Joe Henry's 1990
Shuffletown album, you will love reverie. The album is full of quiet reflective ballads. The sound is rich and warm with a hollow spacey feel or echoe between the instruments. The vinyl edition is extremely quiet and includes a free cd version inside. I wish more of joe Henry's music was available in this format. Excellent music and excellent package.Reverie

Raucous, wonderful, messy, brilliant, stunning. Others here have said it better than me but it bears repeating - one of Henry's best and most complete works. Gets better with each listen. I can't recommend this enough. The lyrics alone put him in the company of some of our best writers.

Joe Henry has released some all-time good records like Civilians, Short Man's Room, and Kindness of the World.

This is not one of them.

Joe seems to get bored and every other album, he changes styles to something that loses his gift for melody and doesn't provide adequate context for his often-brilliant lyrics. It's like Springsteen releasing Nebraska every other album.

Yeah, some may respect this edition of Joe - overly spare arrangements, random percussion, and the feel of a motel lounge with 6 people watching. Doesn't mean they'll listen to it more than once.

I won't pre-order any more Joe Henry albums - you gotta earn it now, buddy.