Customer Reviews

Solo Acoustic, Vol. 2

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jackson Browne's second installment of "Solo Acoustic", shows an introspective and revealing side of Browne. Not just music, there is a self-biography and story-telling approach to the songs, much like Harry Chapin used to do in the 70's that endeared him to millions worldwide. There is no backing full piece band behind him: just Browne, his guitar/piano and the small intimate audience. It's a `here is what i am really like' performance that is made to be heard from beginning to end, and will not lend itself well to IPODs.

Even the songs that Browne selects from his vast catalog are personal, close to the vest songs that don't need much embellishment for a listener to understand that they are more than just words and music. It's also not some kind of unplugged retread of his hits either: it's an intimate recital that you could only get from small venue atmosphere. It opens up, perhaps, a new genre of recordings: personal presentations with the artist speaking ad-lib about the songs, life, loves and disappointments. It differentiates itself from other uplugged cds in this way.

The songs are mostly culled from his latest studio release: 2002's "The Naked Ride Home" (4 songs); "Somebody's Baby" from the Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack; "From Everyman" and from "Looking East". With the exception of 3 or 4 songs, the body of the work will be largely unknown except to Browne fans who know his entire catalog. For me, this made the music even more evocative, since it's just not something you sing along to in the car, it's a bonding between listener and artist: something only a privileged few in music can pull off.

Jackson Browne was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, deservedly so, and not just for his music, but for the impact he's made on it, and the humanitarian events he has been famous in contributing to.

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Jeff Feezle of Macafeez

I've loved Jackson Browne and his music since I first heard "Fountain of Sorrow" back when it was a new song. I have most of his recordings and many have been moved from scratched vinyl to tape to CD.

What I love best about the two solo acoustic CDs is that nothing comes between the man and his music. While these are live concert recordings, the sussurrus of voices and applause are kept to a minimum so all you hear is Browne's crystal clear voice and his guitar--with an occasional piano for accompaniment.

These aren't the Browne songs with a lot of radio play. "Somebody's Baby" is probably the most commercial of this collection, followed by "Redneck Friend." Still, every song is beautifully engineered with the quality Browne's voice and musicianship deserves.

On his new CD Solo Acoustic 2, Jackson Browne has produced another intimate, classy collection of "unplugged" material from throughout his career. As with Vol. 1, it's just Browne and his guitar (or sometimes piano), a setting that seems to highlight the lyrics more strongly, prompting a greater appreciation of the songwriter as a poet. I'm impressed that his vocals have remained so pure and true after all the years, and what minor trembling or breathless moments occur just add character to the performances. Vol. 2 has a somewhat more obscure songlist - many of the more "famous" Browne tunes already having appeared on Vol. 1 - but they're still a well chosen set of tunes. Most of them converted really nicely to the acoustic mode, particularly "The Night Inside Me" and a movingly beautiful "Sky Blue And Black." A few songs, particularly "In The Shape of a Heart," fall a bit flat without the band. Seven cuts have brief spoken introductions by the artist. Most are pretty uninformative and completely off the cuff, and include a lot of shout-outs from the live audience. Fortunately (also like Vol.1), the spoken bits are separately indexed so they can be skipped. I will be listening to the CD many more times, but I won't need to hear the intros ever again.

Jackson Browne's SOLO ACOUSTIC VOL. 1 was the rarest of live albums: it was close, intimate, friendly, inviting--you felt like you were a part of the show, just listening through your headphones. VOL. 2 is much the same. There is a greater emphasis upon Browne's 90's work, but fortunately he largely avoids the political tunes (granted, Browne can write a political song like few can; but let's face it, we don't like having politics shoved down our throats). Instead, he sticks to songs of love and longing, of growing wiser and (more or less) better.

Here is a man who hauls around a huge collection of guitars, who declares "Aw sh**" when he misses a note, he jokes with the audience as though they were his close friends. Jackson Browne is one of rock 'n roll's greatest singer/songwriters--but he became that way because of his humanity, because of his poetic ability to take an ordinary life and put it to music. His songs are largely works of art (in a career as long as his, there are obviously a few mis-steps; the most impressive thing about Browne's body of work his how FEW mis-steps there really are), which speak to everyone at some point in their lives. SOLO ACOUSTIC VOL. 2 draws you into his world, makes you feel like you're sitting around a fireplace, drinking hot chocolate and listening to your Uncle Jack play a few songs on the guitar and piano. As the record closes, it'll leave you wanting more. So here's to hoping there's a VOL. 3 coming out sometime in the near future; and in the meantime, sit back and get lost in the world of Jackson Browne.

JACKSON BROWNE SOLO ACOUSTIC VOL. 2 is the second in a series of solo acoustic albums by the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. The first volume was released in 2005 and this one continues where the last one left off. The songs are different, but the format is identical. Vol 2 showcases the same sense of intimacy and live energy on exhibit at Jackson's recent solo acoustic concerts. He's singing to you.

"Sky Blue and Black," "Redneck Friend" and "Never Stop" are particular standouts, but there isn't a bad track. I expect that some fans will initially complain about the choice of songs: not enough hits. But some were already on Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1 ("These Days", "The Pretender", "Take It Easy"), and hopefully some are being saved for Solo Acoustic, Vol 3. Hit songs like "Doctor My Eyes" and "Running On Empty" have not yet made an appearance in this acoustic series.

It is very rare that a live album is able to capture the true energy and vibe of a live performance the way Jackson Browne's Solo Acoustic CDs have. They are both essential for any fan of Jackson Browne's music, but also indispensable to those who want to study song writing by a master craftsman. This is the way music should be done.

The 60-ish Jackson Browne is in great form with this continuation of his 2005 solo live cd, singing and accompanying himself on guitar even better than when we saw him live in the 70's. There is a full range of songs here, with favorites from the first album through his most current cd's. The cd notably closes with a touching tribute to his long-term girlfriend, "My Stunning Mystery Companion." As on his last cd, Jackson was considerate enough to divide the spoken song introductions from the songs with separate track numbers. The whole project is beautifully executed and tasteful to the max. Yea Jackson! If you like this cd, check out David Bromberg's Grammy-nominated solo acoustic "Try Me One More Time." Jackson and David are old friends who played and sang together many times.

If you always wanted to spend a night with Jackson Browne and have him play for you - jump on this Acoustic Volume 2. There isn't much banter ( except for a cute Stphen Stills story and a mansion with a beautiful unnamed girl who inspired Jackson and me too !) but this is so intimate and compelling, that I can't stop listening to it over and over again. It has even got me to pick up one of my acoustic guitars again. First 8 or so are great guitar songs and then on 9, Mr Browne switches to the piano. To be honest, I'd listen to him acapello <sic>. The songs and warmth will lull you into another world. Be prepared. MY ONE HINT IS - DON'T LOOK AT THE SONGLIST THE FIRST TIME YOU PUT IT ON - JUST LET JACKSON TAKE YOU WHERE HE WANTS .......... I can't recommend this disc high enough. 6 STARS is more like it. Back to Blue and Black - catch you on down the road. Peace.

It was with some apprehension I awaited my CD of Solo Acoustic Vol.2. I along with many others, I am sure, would prefer to have his choices for a live album concentrate heavily on the first 3 or 4 albums of his career. I felt the choices for the Solo 1 were near perfect and I expected this to not live up to that effort. Once again, he has proven me wrong. He does offer a stirring and soulful "Something Fine" effort, which I feel is as good as anything I have ever heard, but his newer material (by new I mean anything less than 20 years old) not only holds it's own against the most classic of his music, in some ways it supercedes it. "Sky blue and black" is so very beautifully done. I was also impressed with "Never stop" and "All good things". Although beautifully done, "My Stunning Mystery Companion" was very bittersweet for me personally. I got married just after that album had come out and played the song at my wedding. Unfortunately, I lost my wife recently to cancer, so hearing this bought out the memories of my "stunning mystery companion". As always, Jackson brought a tear to my eye. No-one pulls at the heart strings the way Jackson does.

In 2005, Jackson Browne released the critically and commercially acclaimed "Solo Acoustic - Vol. 1", which centered primarily on Browne's older and best known songs. Now finally comes the second volume.

On "Solo Acoustic - Vol. 2" (19 tracks, 71 min.), Jackson Browne continues the same formula of Volume 1, which is to say: a spoken introduction to quite a few of the songs, and then just Jackson with his guitar or piano. The main difference with this volume is that it centers around the newer (and hence lesser known) songs in Browne's catalogue. His most recent studio album proper, 2002's excellent "Naked Ride Home" gets three tracks, including "The Night Inside Me", "Casino Nation" and the outstanding closer on this set "My Stunning Mystery Companion". The best known tracks on here are "In the Shape of a Heart" (from 1986's "Lives In the Balance") and "Somebody's Baby" (from the "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" soundtrack). Special mention also for the beautiful "Sky Blue and Black" and "All Good Things", both from 1993's "I'm Alive", but there really are no weak tracks on here.

Some reviewers here seem to take issue with the spoken introductions (there are 7 in total), but for me they only add to the authenticity of this collection. And the story about spending time at Stephen Stills' house (even if it wasn't his house) is pretty hilarious (talking about writing "Something Fine", from Browne's debut album). More annoying is that there are no liner notes whatsoever, so you don't know what song was recorded when or where, among other things. But in the end that is a minor quibble. "Solo Acoustic - Vol. 2" is an excellent sequel and addition to this hopefully on-going series of "unplugged" recordings from Jackson Browne.

fantastic as ever. i LOVED the renditions of Alive in the World, The Night Inside Me, Something Fine, and, surprisingly, Enough of the Night. All the others are amazing as well! Jackson's voice cracks quite a bit on "Sky Blue and Black," but I don't think it diminishes from the performance at all. It's simply him getting old. He still ROCKS though! a must buy for sure.