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From the Vault...
11/23/1997
#552 |
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info
Jackson Browne
"The Pretender"
© Asylum Records
Year of Release: 1976
Rating:
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track listing
The Fuse
Your Bright Baby Blues
Linda Paloma
Here Come Those
Tears Again
The Only Child
Daddy's Tune
Sleep's Dark And
Silent Gate
The Pretender
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WSVNRadio Archives
Jackson Browne related sites:
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Jackson Browne
"The Pretender"
Jackson Browne -- either you like him or you don't.
Music wise, his blending of soft country and California rock
helped pave the way for such artists as Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt,
and The Eagles. Although you may agree or (mostly) disagree with his personal
life, like his political beliefs in the Eighties, and his abusive
relationship with actress Daryl Hannah, my focus is how his music
is enjoyed, not only by myself, but by others who enjoy popular music.
I first discovered Jackson Browne's music when I
received his album Late For The Sky. This album, like this
week's album pick of the week, The Pretender, focuses on
mellow, soft country tunes. I really enjoyed the Late album,
with the mellow and upbeat rock tunes. However, The Pretender
mostly focuses on more mellow tunes. In fact, the entire album is
just that -- mellow, soft country tunes. Some songs start out
in that fashion, and then jumps to an upbeat tempo (like Daddy's
Tune), But all in all, this album is enjoyable to the ear.
The things that stand out in this album is how Jackson Browne
uses musical instruments to bring out the songs to your attention:
The piano -- it really stands out in songs like The Fuse, and
the title track, The Pretender, which is considered a classic
tune. Linda Paloma is showcased as a pleasant, spanish-style tune.
Featuring a piano that really sounds like a harp, (is it a piano or a harp?)
giving the song a nice spanish-sounding effect -- very impressive.
The guitar -- not your standard electric guitar, but the
famous country steel guitar. Songs like The Fuse, and Your
Bright Baby Blues features this. This instrument is not heavily
used throughout the songs, but when it comes in for an occasional solo,
it gives each song a nice, clean musical touch.
The Pretender is from an era in Jackson Browne's career
before he began writing political-driven tunes. Truthfully, his
best albums are those done in his early years (the 1970s); they define
the style of great soft-country music. If you enjoy the styles of
those already mentioned (The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt),
you won't be disappointed in discovering Jackson Browne's early works.
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Asylum Records
and is used for reference purposes only.
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