LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III > Recovery

It’s usually a sign of desperation when an artist re-records his old songs. An admission that the muse has dried up, the generally unsuccessful attempt to generate fast cash by spit-polishing the hits in hope of an unlikely comeback also seems somewhat depressing. Thankfully Loudon Wainwright lll is too artistically sincere to take the easy way out on these 13 covers of his tunes, all originally recorded before 1974.Label: Yep Roc
[Rating: 3 1/2 STARS]

It’s usually a sign of desperation when an artist re-records his old songs. An admission that the muse has dried up, the generally unsuccessful attempt to generate fast cash by spit-polishing the hits in hope of an unlikely comeback also seems somewhat depressing. Thankfully Loudon Wainwright lll is too artistically sincere to take the easy way out on these 13 covers of his tunes, all originally recorded before 1974. He’s also experiencing a mini-revival after the positive reaction to last year’s Strange Weirdos soundtrack. Producer Joe Henry suggested revisiting Wainwright’s obscure 30-year-old tunes, bolstering their once stark, often lone acoustic guitar arrangements with a broader, bolder, even edgier approach. Everything clicks due to the timelessness of Wainwright’s wry, self-deprecating lyrics-generally concerning human foibles-and especially Henry’s crisp, sympathetic arrangements. The singer/songwriter’s older and wiser delivery resuscitates his nearly forgotten folk/rock with a well-deserved, new lease on life.