John Anderson: Paradise

Unlike some other country albums, you won't find such new, cool instruments like a sitar showing up on John Anderson's latest, Paradise. He uses the standard line-up of instruments, but working with co-producer James Stroud, Anderson makes the band sound like so much more. There's punch, there's power and there's things going on musically that just keep on jumping out. The title cut and first single talk about the joys of being reclusive. But two other cuts, "Long Hard Lesson Learned" and "30,000 Feet", promote more universal themes, showing Anderson is more broadminded than some would think. Teaming up with his buddies Levon Helm and Mark Knopfler offers some great synergy. Helm is featured on "The Band Played On", which is rather clever considering that Helm played in a group named The Band (get it?). Knopfler adds some stunning guitar work to "Let The Guitar Do The Talking". "My Kind Of Crazy" and "Love Comes Back Around" show Anderson at his upbeat best. But it is on slower numbers -- "It Wouldn't Kill Me" and "Bad Weather" with its 1920s sound -- that perk ones' ears. Anderson has a voice that people either love or hate, but it is instantly identifiable. There is no cookie-cutter mentality found in Anderson or on this project, and that is, truly, a relief.
-- Music City News

Sidemen

• Levon Helm

John Anderson - Paradise - 1996 - BMG/BNI 7863-66810-2