For the past 15 years, Van Morrison?s output has jumped between glorious (The Healing Game, Magic Time), uneven, but still worthwhile (Down the Road, Keep It Simple) and sub-par (What?s Wrong With This Picture?, Pay the Devil). His latest, recorded in his hometown of Belfast, falls somewhere short of greatness.
The lead-off tracks lead you into a false sense of security, with the first song, Open the Door (To Your Heart) showing Morrison at his very best ? in fine voice, working a deep soulful groove with a terrific band. The eight-minute Goin? Down to Monte Carlo, a sunny, organ-drenched slice of R&B, follows and the gorgeous, rambling meditation End of the Rainbow is not far behind.
After the equivalent of side one, however, monotony sets in, broken only by the ultra-cool, bass-driven If In Money We Trust, a jazzy indictment of the financial crisis. And the usual curmudgeonly complaints (about everything from all the enemies waiting to stab him in the back to the crappy jazz playing in the restaurant) began to wear thin some time ago.
Still, half a great Van Morrison album is still a half-hour of must-hear music.
Rating: ***
Podworthy: Open the Door (To Your Heart)
Born to Sing: No Plan B will be available Oct. 2. Here?s a live performance of the title track:
And get a preview of the whole album right here:
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