John Stewart
Bullets in the Hour Glass (Shanachie) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
John Stewart has been making music for more than 30 years, and for an audience of a certain age his albums have become a friendly reminder of a time when the stories of salt-of-the-Earth folks could be told without irony in song, and liberal ideals weren`t a political liability. Starting as a singer with the Kingston Trio and moving ahead toward the `90s as a tunesmith for such diverse artists as the Monkees (”Daydream Believer”), Nancy Griffith, the Four Tops and Joan Baez, Stewart has charted an impressive career. His rich, warm voice and ultra-personal lyrics have combined to produce such memorable albums as ”California Bloodlines” and ”Phoenix Concerts,” and
”Bullets in the Hourglass” is comfortingly familiar, as well. In it, Stewart examines the state of election-year America and observes how human relationships have been tested by the forces of change. The voice quavers occasionally but such lovely and topical tunes as ”Women” (with Rosanne Cash), ”The Wheel Within the Clay” (with Buffy Ford Stewart) and ”American Nights” stand out both as pleasingly contemporary statements and echoes of the shattered dreams of 1968.
Rating:
Excellent (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Good (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Fair (STAR)(STAR)
Poor (STAR)