Marc Cohn - Join the Parade
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Marc CohnEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2007-10-09
Music Label: Decca
Soundtracks:
- Listening To Levon
- The Calling
- Dance Back From the Grave
- If I Were an Angel
- Let Me Be Your Witness
- Live Out the String
- Giving Up the Ghost
- Join the Parade
- My Sanctuary
- Life Goes On
Free Music Notes for Join the Parade
Free Music Review: SOULFUL, ROOTSY AND RAW - HIS FINEST YET ?
Hit: 5 Stars
There are only a handful of artists who have, over the years, consistently given me a lot of listening pleasure, and MC is easily one of these. Now, I am not one for over-exaggeration but, these days, he only seems to produce a new studio album to coincide with the next sighting of Halley's Comet. However, this may be no bad thing - I'll settle for quality over quantity any day. Suffice to say that I'm very glad I came across MC when I first heard 'Walking In Memphis' over 15 years ago (yes, it really is that long ago - now, a distant memory of a time when I was solvent, and he had more hair than me); but enough of my nostalgic musings - what about this album ?
After almost a 10 year 'lay-off' since 'Burning the Daze', MC is back with his inimitable brand of rootsy pop-rock (but not so much of the 'pop' on this album).
THE SONGS : All are either written or co-written by MC. Most are slow to mid-tempo - exceptions being 'Live Out the String' and 'My Sanctuary'. As you would expect, the lyrics are 'top notch', covering such diverse themes as : regrets about lost loves and past relationships, the human impact of the Katrina tragedy, and his love for his family. A few of the melodies are not as immediately accessible as some on previous albums, nevertheless they are still pretty good; but it could be said that a couple of songs ('Dance Back From the Grave' and 'If I Were An Angel') are 'lighter on melody and heavier on groove'; whereas others ('The Calling', 'Let Me Be Your Witness' and 'Giving Up the Ghost') have a more 'classic' MC feel to them. Most of the songs are poignant, but not in that mellow-bittersweet style of songs like 'True Companion', 'The Things We've Handed Down' or 'Healing Hands'; and they are introspective - occasionally uplifting, often quite 'dark', but always moody and evocative. Also, they are songs from the heart - from a man who feels lucky to be alive (and he probably is !).
THE VOCALS : On this album, MC's smoky baritone voice has a more gravely 'lived in' texture (more noticeable on some tracks than others). I think his style is more soulful than on previous albums and his delivery has a 'simmering' emotional edge. The harmony and backing vocals further enhance the sound by lending a soulful and haunting quality to many tracks.
THE PRODUCTION : Charlie Sexton has replaced John Leventhal as co-producer and, whilst I miss the sumptuous layering of electric guitars and keyboards, that 'fuller' production sometimes had a tendency to detract from the songs themselves. Although this album doesn't return to the semi-acoustic piano-led music which featured prominently on MC's debut album (a slight disappointment for me), the production is somewhat 'leaner' than on 'Burning the Daze' but less subdued than on 'The Rainy Season'. The vocal/instrumental sound balance is fine for the most part but, at times, I thought the instrumental backing/percussion seemed too loud (too forward ?); for me, MC's first album still sets the benchmark for production excellence.
THE PLAYING : A wide range of instruments provide accompaniment : guitars (electric/National steel/acoustic/bass) and other stringed instruments, keyboards (piano, Hammond and Chamberlin), percussion, horns and cello; and, subject to my earlier qualification about 'sound balance', these complement (rather than compete with) MC's vocals. On 'Join the Parade', MC and his musicians are all 'coming from the same place' - the vocals and instrumental accompaniment are in unison to produce a cohesive sound. The band lay down some really interesting sounds too - just a few examples : the 'fluid funk' of the middle register guitar riffs on 'Dance Back From the Grave'; the simultaneous, yet contrasting drum rhythms on 'The Calling'; on a number of tracks, the deft keyboard playing (for example, just listen to the intro on the 'The Calling'); the eerie sounds of National steel and keyboards on 'Giving Up the Ghost'; or the overstrung piano on 'My Sanctuary' (in popular music, MC has got to be one of the best pianists around). Not to put it mildly, I thought the musicianship was quite exceptional.
All of these elements (songs, vocals, production and playing) combine to create an album which is highly sensuous - if, for any particular song, one of these fails to whet your appetite, the others almost certainly will.
Many fans will enjoy 'Join the Parade', you'd be hard pressed to find a much better set of studio performances than these; but for some, the sound might be a bit too raw; if you are looking forward to 'more of the same' from MC - particularly if you relate to his earlier music (such as the three songs already mentioned or more 'poppy' songs like 'Walking In Memphis', 'Silver Thunderbird' or 'Walk Through the World') - you could be disappointed. 'Join the Parade' is not an 'instant fix' album, the music here will fully engage the senses ONLY after repeated listenings. For casual listeners, don't expect a raft of catchy and polished 'radio friendly' tunes that you can switch onto with a first time listen (I would suggest the Greatest Hits compilation instead - an excellent choice for those who enjoy MC's music but who are not completists).
As one of the finest songwriters ever to walk this Earth, MC will always have a loyal fan base, regardless of how commercially successful his releases may be. I only hope it's not another 10 years before the next one - I might be 'pushing up the daisies' by then. Even my 'better half' likes MC - but I suspect that she will prefer his 'sweeter' style of old. I like almost anything MC does, but this album represents something of a departure for him so, unless you are a staunch 'cohnhead', a degree of caution is advisable before you decide to buy - the music samples adequately convey the overall sound but, not surprisingly, they are too short to do either the songs or the musicianship any justice.
A few minor reservations aside, in it's own right this is a very good album indeed and I just hope that it gets the recognition that it truly deserves. In my book, this is simply GOOD music - far better than some of the junk that finds it's way into the 'top twenty' these days; 4.5 stars.
Join the Parade Poster
GRAMMY® AWARD WINNER MARC COHN RETURNS WITH HIS FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN NEARLY A DECADE MARC COHN Join The Parade It has been nearly a decade since American singer/songwriter Marc Cohn last released a studio album. It has been fifteen years (1992) since he won the Grammy® Award for Best New Artist. Best known for his colossal hit "Walking In Memphis," Cohn returns with a new, passionate and poignant recording JOIN THE PARADE, to be released on October 9th. JOIN THE PARADE is the product of a personal journey. A recording of 10 songs that share a common theme woven from both Cohn's empathic observations after Hurricane Katrina and from a 2005 incident during which the singer found himself the victim of a carjacking in Denver, which left him with a gunshot wound to the head. JOIN THE PARADE is introspective. It is one man's look at the beauty of life through its fragility--spiritually moving and inspirational. Co-produced by long-time guitarist and Bob Dylan band member Charlie Sexton, the album was recorded over a period of a year both in New York, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. JOIN THE PARADE is a long overdue album that serves to solidify Cohn's already well-known reputation as a great American songwriter.Marc Cohn Photo
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More from Marc Cohn
 Greatest Hits |  Marc Cohn |  The Rainy Season |  Burning the Daze |
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