Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 26-30 of 64
 Dull as dishwater June 5, 2008
Thomas W. Altizer (Washington, D.C. United States)
8 out of 15 found this review helpful
What's with this guy? His recent output is all interchangable, tedious riffs that could have been written by anyone. There's nothing distinctive (other than the ageless voice) and nothing you haven't heard before on this album. Save your dough or, if you simply must buy a Van Morrison album, get a copy of "Veedon Fleece" and revel in what this artist used to produce. Now he's simply tedious.
 Van, keep telling the story. April 3, 2008
G. Mahler (Marin County, Ca)
7 out of 15 found this review helpful
For those that have much or all of Van's music, one could argue that this is just like all the rest. However like Italian or Mexican food, which I both love, one could contend that the same ingredients are used in each, just cooked or prepared differently. With Van, he may go over similar topics, but cooked up a different way. The blues, gospel, soul and country vibe is ever present. When will listeners/fans learn that it is giving artists liberties to do what interests or inspires, that makes for an enjoyable listen. I have my favorite Van albums like everyone else. Some I listen to more than others, however, I love them all like children. Please let this and every album stand on its own and do not try to always compare to the past.
That being said, buy this as you will love it at first listen or it will grow on you. The band is stellar and on time and note. Van, keep telling the story.
 Good and solid effort April 10, 2008
Tom DeZego (Richmond, VA)
7 out of 14 found this review helpful
When I first heard this CD, my reaction was like the negative reviews out of the first 22 reviews it has received. It's a rather laidback effort, but it's deceiving in its simplicity. I listened to it again--and again--and it's starting to grow on me. While it's not as soul-shaking as some of his other CDs (e.g., Astral Weeks, St. Dominic's Preview, Into the Music), it's still Van Morrison working his magic.
These songs are subtle and paced, and I have to admit, pretty workmanlike--the song structures and singing are much like his other work. But in no way should that diminish the resultant beauty and grace of the songs. I can actually see some of these cuts eventually making their way into movies, especially Lover Come Back and Soul.
The best cuts, in my opinion are Behind the Ritual, Soul, Lover Come Back, Keep It Simple, and End of the Land. Ritual is enigmatic, but still quietly stirring--even with the "blah blah" lyrics; it's just Van having some fun. This CD may be laidback, but these cuts are Van Morrison gems.
He has created another solid set of songs, and if you like Van at all, they just might grow on you, too.
Deceptively Complex April 21, 2008
Thomas D. Ryan (New York)
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
I am predisposed to like anything that Van Morrison releases, and the reason is simple. He has released an incredible number of song collections, and I've liked virtually every one of them, so why wouldn't I expect his latest to be just as satisfying? "Keep It Simple" is as predictable as it is enjoyable. After forty-plus years in the music business, Morrison is not interested in reinventing the wheel. He knows what works, and he holds to it. "Keep It Simple" sticks fairly close to its title's implication, with the majority of songs based on blues changes and country styles. His themes are also consistent. "How Can a Poor Boy?" and "School of Hard Knocks" both address dissatisfaction, and his bitterness is usually aimed squarely at the music industry. Over a steady groove, he sings "Tell me who's gonna patronize me now? They've brainwashed the suckers again and perpetrated the myth, Propaganda far and wide." Morrison has been doing this too long to suffer fools, and he speaks plainly with an honesty that is refreshing for an industry that builds its reputation on false promises and lies.
As far as I can tell, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan are the only two artists who can cover this ground with any artistic success. As elder statesmen, they can express thoughts that would sound ridiculous coming from a less seasoned artist. Morrison's music may not be as exciting as Bob's latest work, but it is just as vital, because his perspective is so refined. Who else but Van Morrison could write a song of praise to a loved one and entitle it "That's Entrainment"? He is still obsessed with truth and enlightenment, even as all evidence derived from a lifetime of `hard knocks' points him in the opposite direction. It is this dichotomy that makes Morrison's music so intriguing and consistent. He gives us the impression that he likes to "Keep It Simple," but like most all of his recordings, there is still something deceptively complex and intriguing about his perspective. In "Don't Go To Nightclubs Anymore," he sings "I'm not a legend in my own mind," but luckily for the rest of us, he is a legend everywhere else. Later in the disk, he tells us that "Soul is where everything begins," and that certainly holds true for a seasoned artist who still strives to "Keep It Simple." B+ Tom Ryan
lost highway is apt June 16, 2008
R. Kelley (New England, USA)
7 out of 11 found this review helpful
I first saw Van live in 1967. I have been a fan for more than 40 years. In my opinion, this is his most banal and aimless recording ever. The last recording that moved me was "Back on Top". My son (a musician) and I were lamenting Van's missing muse. My advice is for Van to record again when (if) he finds her.
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