So, here's the good news: Van Morrison can still write a good melody, or borrow a good blues riff and make it his own. He's been doing both forever, and while a lot of them sound the same, he's a talented songwriter. The band on this record is highly talented and the recording sounds good. Whoever is playing the Hammond B3 is especially skilled. The backup singers are rather forward in the mix on many songs, and they sound great.
But here's the rub: The best way to thoroughly enjoy this record is to not understand the English language. Lyrically, Van is very upset about a lot of things these days. His wife of 25-plus years left in 2018, and he's still a mess about that, and not in just a sad way, but clearly dealing with some anger issues. He's mad at the music business. And the media in general. And psychiatrists. And Facebook. And Covid restrictions. Additionally, he thinks everyone that doesn't love him, and maybe those that do love him and thus emulate his work, are all just jealous of his enormous talent. Finally on his list of complaints, is the fact that he is the only authentic rebel left.
And (I know, how could there be more?), Van seems to think that the music he's making now sounds so different that people don't get it, and they should realize that he's progressing and get over it. Trust me, the only thing really new about this record is how totally bat-shit crazy Van Morrison sounds when words come out of his mouth.
There's been one or two of those angry songs on many of his records over the last 30 years or so. But this one has, by my count, something like 19 of them. Holy crap, there's 28 songs on the 2-CD set, and two thirds are him whining and complaining and being paranoid. And this is only Volume 1?
With brutal editing, this could have been a pretty good single disc release. At over two hours long, it is a disaster.
Surely on my piss list now that he's spouting covid bullshit. fuck this clown. nearly 50 yrs ago he WAS the real deal. As a 60's kid, my favorite!
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