Jimmy Buffett, "Take the Weather with You," (Mailboat/RCA Nashville)
As America's favorite musical beach bum, Jimmy Buffett found his niche in the 1970s with island-influenced party tunes and literate acoustic songs about aging and self-definition. However, as time went on, Buffett tilted the balance toward the sun and the nightlife. His celebratory live shows gained a loyal following, but Buffett focused so stridently on songs about bars, boats and beaches that he buried his more introspective fare.
His albums grew too shallow to hold much water.
But, as he approaches 60, Buffett seems revived creatively. Perhaps scoring a No.
1 country hit with his Alan Jackson duet, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," renewed his commitment to record-making. Whatever the reason, "Take the Weather with You" is even stronger than 2004's comeback collection, "License to Chill."
The breezy Gulf Coast sound remains, such as the single "Bama Breeze," but they show more thought.
Even better, he blends solid covers by songwriting peers of his generation with tunes by younger acoustic tunesmiths. Highlights include his versions of Jesse Winchester's age-old "Nothin' But a Breeze," Guy Clark and Chuck Mead's "Cinco de Mayo in Memphis," Gillian Welch's "Elvis Presley's Blues" and Mary Gauthier's surreal "Wheel Inside the Wheel."
The best parts of "Weather" have nothing to do with sand and everything to do with a well-read beachcomber's skewed view on modern life.
It's good to see Buffett can still benefit from a change in attitude this late in the game.
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