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62 of 65 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of Cat / Yusuf's very finest efforts EVER!, May 5, 2009
I was pleasantly surprised by 2006's "An Other Cup," which is a superb album by any standard, but--to my astonishment--"Roadsinger" easily surpasses it, making this new album one of the very finest in Cat Stevens/Yusuf's remarkable canon. At first glance, the musical and cultural range here is not as broad at that of the earlier disc, and the overt references to Yusuf's Islamic faith are certainly considerably toned down, but, in this case, neither of these is a bad thing. What emerges instead is a much more focused and accessible record, whose folky gentility recaptures the Seventies glory days of "Tea For The Tillerman," and "Teaser and the Firecat." Yusuf's acoustic guitar playing, intricate, teasing, and gentle, is sweetly haunting, recalling (and maybe even outdoing) his work on his classic records thirty years ago. This is the true return of the Cat Stevens we knew in our youth, a re-emergence so startling and complete that not even the considerable charms of "An Other Cup" could have prepared us for it. Every single track here is a gem, and "Roadsinger" is nothing short of a full-blown masterpiece. The title track alone, with its beautifully-told tale of an outcast seeker, is well worth the price of the disc.
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41 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Searching Cat Stevens returns, May 5, 2009
I was very pleasantly surprised when I heard about this album and even more so when I listened to it.
Its existence shows that the return of Cat Stevens (in his new Yusuf persona) in 2006's "An Other Cup" was no fluke. Listening to it proves something even more wonderful- That the gentle searching and storytelling that was the essence of Cat Stevens' best work is back with a vengeance.
Top Songs on the album are "Welcome Home", "RoadSinger", "All Kinds of Roses" and especially "Everytime I Dream". Listen to it and feel the joy of a master songwriter and performer rediscovering himself and the world around him once again.
Welcome back Peace Train...and please tour in the USA!
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38 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I prefer vintage Cat but this is still good, May 6, 2009
I have a strong bias toward Cat Stevens of the Teaser and the Firecat and Tea for the Tillerman era. That music was part of my growing up soundtrack, especially "Morning Has Broken," "Moonshadow," and "Peacetrain."
Listening to this new album made me wish once again that he had not given up popular music after his conversion to Islam. The decades have been kinder to his voice than if he had spent them singing in smoky clubs; his voice is much better than most of the old rockers of his era but is still darker and raspier and doesn't have the effortless ease it used to have. But there are moments on this CD when I hear the old Cat come out to sing.
I have slightly mixed feelings about the CD (do I love it or just like it?): I really like some songs, don't care for a couple, and generally like the rest but am not wild about them (though this could change with extended exposure). My favorite track on this CD is the title track "Roadsinger;" I liked it the first time I heard it. For me it is the closest to what I have always loved about Yusuf's songs, both musically and emotionally. His voice is not the best in "Welcome Home" and this song could have benefitted from another take (I read that this one was done in one take). The message of "All Kinds of Roses" feels a bit ham handed and the music isn't catchy or appealing enough to carry it. The final track is instrumental only and quite lovely. There are some references to Yusuf's faith but they are fairly limited. Overall, I don't like it as much as my oldies but it is good to hear him making music like this again. It had been way too long.
The liner notes are heavy on photos (especially photos that point to his earlier work, I guess for people who don't make the connection) and way too light on content. There are lyrics for only a few of the songs. Given that Yusuf's song often tell stories, the lack of lyrics or commentary on what inspired the songs is unfortunate. This may not be a big deal in the downloading era, but I still like to have liner notes at hand while listening to the music.
If you are a big fan of Yusuf/Cat Stevens (but not as nostalgic as I am for a particular couple of albums), you will probably enjoy this CD. If you aren't sure if you want the whole CD, I definitely recommend you buy the download of the title song "Roadsinger."
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