Simple Tastes

I recently read DarkoV's list of road trip music he listened to on his way to visit his "coop-flyer" away at college. I didn't find much on that list that was familiar to me, except for some Little Feat and Los Lobos.

My taste in music is varied, but tends to be less exotic than most folks. And you can't get more mainstream and commercial than Jimmy Buffett. But, let me tell ya right now buckeroos, his new cd is excellent: Take the Weather With You. It was such a thrill to hear those steel drums again.




I've listened to this cd for 4 times and with each spin-through it just gets better and better. This is Buffett Deluxe and I love it. Okay, when I saw "Silver Wings" listed, I had my doubts, but I should have known better. Merle's is still the best, but Jimmy's musical interpretation and timing makes the song his own unique sound.

Lots of cover tunes here, and not much of the old storyteller we love, but his ode to Katrina victims, "Breathe In, Breathe Out" is quintessential Buffett. One of the original Coral Reefer band members joins in the fun, Doyle Grisham, and of course, there are the signature steel drums ala Robert Greenidge from Trinidad. Sonny Landreth's steel guitar is so rockin' on "Wheel Inside the Wheel", I prefer it to Mary Gauthier's original tune.

This is not Jimmy's best album by a long shot, but I'll take it any day over his last country pop cd, "License to Chill".

And these lyrics from his cd "Far Side of the World" really sums up Jimmy these days:

I might as well admit it
There's been a time or two
When I contemplate retirement for a while
But a hundred years from now
They'll still be asking how
As they gaze upon on my taxidermic smile

They're gonna see the last man standing
Still got a fun ticket in my hand
Gonna be the last man standing
Takin' off before I land

Old Parrotheads never die, they just lose a few feathers along the way...

Posted under: music