October Road

James Taylor

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 13, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00006ADZD
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (138 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,485 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There's a comfortable sense of the familiar to James Taylor's first collection of new songs since 1997's Grammy winner Hourglass; such is the curse of being a decades-spanning cultural icon. But, as on his best work, there's also an almost stealthy sense of musical restlessness that seeps into Taylor's songs here, as he colors some with deft jazz and international influences. The reunion with producer Russ Titelman (they last collaborated on 1976's In the Pocket) seems to have gratifyingly inspired as much gentle reassessment as retrenchment. Longtime Titelman compatriot Ry Cooder guests on the title track, a song whose autumnal comforts fit the Taylor canon and other album tracks like "September Grass," "Baby Buffalo," "My Traveling Star," and "On the Fourth of July" (the story of Taylor's romantic meeting with current wife Kim) like an old slipper. However, "Belfast to Boston" cries for peace in Ireland and elsewhere with some surprising Gaelic flourishes, while "Whenever You're Ready" throws some Brazilian rhythms and jazzy horns into the mix, and Dave Grusin's slick orchestral arrangement turns "Mean Old Man" into an elegant cabaret surprise. A little more of this musical adventure amidst the familiar romantic ballads and paeans to the comfort of home and family--including a gorgeously spare cover of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"--certainly wouldn't hurt. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the Wait, August 14, 2002

By	Mark Harter (Oklahoma City, OK USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's always presumptuous to write anything about great music...you need to listen to it to understand. But this latest effort by someone whose skills don't need too much explanation is worth the wait since "Hourglass".

Lots of the familiar in the work, but not formula riffs or chord progressions...not just old favorites remixed or rewritten. If you would like some deeper insight into some of the places and themes that you'll find in "October Road", then maybe you should read at least one biography of the artist...it's well worth the time.

You can sometimes hear the ocean or feel the movement of a ship in this music. You can detect the air getting a bit cooler as autumn approaches. Some of the tracks may stir feelings of sadness or longing, but there are other songs to lighten your heart as well.

The lyrics range from the roguishly clever to the outright nostalgic. Musically, you can expect the very fine production and sound quality that we've grown accustomed to when James Taylor shares his special gifts with us.

But aside from such "mundane" technical considerations, "October Road" is another wonderful work from an artist who pays particular attention to lyrical and musical excellence....and who understands a great deal about the fall of the year.

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars JT Is Finally Back With "October Road", August 22, 2002

By	Wesley W. Spahr "US History Guy" (Main Line, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"October Road" is one of those typical JT albums like "Hourglass" that at first you go huh? You think to yourself when you first listen to the album that you don't hear a memorable song. But then as you are outside doing yardwork or maybe just walking along, one of the songs such as "September Grass" or "Whenever Your Ready" suddenly pops into your head and then you think to yourself that it's actually a pretty good song and/or album.
For those who have not heard "Sailing to Philadelphia" which he first sang with Mark Knopfler, formally of Dire Straits, on Knopfler's album of the same title, it is well worth buying the bonus cd, because this is the best song of the bunch. Not to say that "September Grass" and the other songs on the album aren't fine, but "Sailing to Philadelphia" is one of the most relaxing songs I know.
This is a cd that I found I could put the repeat button on and listen to it a few times over and not get sick of hearing the same songs over and over again. It offers a nice mix of James although there are no real stir you up songs like "Sweet Potato Pie" or "Steamroller" except for maybe "Belfast To Boston" which is in a way a stir you up song but it is done very mellowy. The album is more of the modern James, and you can hear the influences of his classical background on quite a few of the songs.
The only two songs I did not like were "Mean Old Man" which I found annoying, and pardon my Grinchness, but I am sick of hearing remakes of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" even if they are done by JT. Unlike "You've Got A Friend", or "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence" which were remakes of someone else's songs that sounded very different then the originals, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is not very new sounding. Overall I found this album to be a nice addition to my JT collection. -Wesley Spahr

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Walking Man journeys down 'October Road', August 22, 2002

By	timework (Safety Harbor, FL United States) - See all my reviews

Let me first say I was a little leary about buying this CD. Despite all the hype and praise that was piled on his last effort 'Hourglass', I personally felt (with the exception of the song 'Another Day') that album was a misstep. It seemed like a very forced effort. For example, the single 'A Little More Time with you' seemed like a half-hearted attempt by JT to write a hit song to please his label. It was nice to see JT receive the praise he did, but I felt it was for the wrong album.

That being said...'October Road' is JT back to his true form. What a great collection of songs. Lyrically, melodically, and production wise this album really shines. This could be remembered as one of his best that gets better with every listen.

There's only two songs that seem a little out of place in the collection..'Mean Old Man', which sounds like something he would perform on one of his Symphonic Tours next to 'Paper Moon' or 'Getting To Know You' and the closer 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas'...kind of an odd choice for the last track on an album released in August. (Maybe they should have put that track on the bonus disc in the limited edition package??)

The other 10 tracks on this album are fantastic. Producer Russ Titleman adds little touches to each song that really compliments them and sets them apart individually. From the slide guitar by Ry Cooder on 'October Road' to the vocal processing on 'Baby Buffalo'.

'October Road' was well worth the wait. Do yourself a favor..don't be leary. Definitely pick it up.