Texas troubadour singer/songwriter
Jimmy LaFave has never been shy about flaunting his influences. He's usually good for at least one
Dylan cover per album (this has three, others have more) so it's no surprise that he adds a
Springsteen tune here to connect the dots. But surprisingly, one of the best of the five non-originals on
LaFave's first album in five years is a stunning remake of
John Waite's '80s power ballad "Missing You." He uses the catches in the phrasing of his grainy, distinctive voice to unlock subtleties in the lyrics (that many took for granted on the original) and expose the song's deep sentiments. Similar to his versions of
Dylan's tunes, he explores new depths in the music by finding the tune's essence and bringing out the passion that was somewhat lost in the commerciality of
Waite's performance. But
LaFave is more than just a great interpreter. His compositions, such as the opening "Clear Blue Sky" are just as moving and introspective. The dark, melancholy groove is emphasized through songs of lost ("Vanished") and fading love ("Talk to Me") worthy of
Jackson Browne in his prime. He brings church to a love-train, let's-build-a better-world gospel song ("Bring Back the Trains") and even goes born again with sincerity minus any pretensions in "Living in Your Light." The three
Dylan tunes ("Red River Shore," "Tomorrow Is a Long Time," and a stunning, touching "I'll Remember You," complete with a string quartet) cherry-pick potent and relatively obscure tracks from three different
Dylan eras.
LaFave imports fresh expression to them in performances that are poignant and powerful. Acting as his own producer,
LaFave captures a rootsy vibe and clean but not sterile sound from a terrific band, but the reliance on moody ballads doesn't do the album any favors. A few more chugging, twangy country-rockers such as "Red Dirt Night" would have helped the flow and offset the quieter material that dominates -- arguably over-dominates -- the sequencing. Still,
LaFave sings the softer material with such obvious emotion, it's hard to complain that at 13 cuts and an hour of running time, some judicious pruning might have been in order. He's one of the finest under-the-radar Americana artists, and this is a terrific addition to a remarkably consistent ten-album catalog that has sadly been undiscovered by the masses.