Description
On his seventh album, Jaime Michaels once again combines lovely melodies, poetic lyrics and heartfelt performances. Producer Jono Manson?s simple but masterful production gives listeners the feeling that they are sitting right there in the studio, surrounded by the musicians. An impressive line-up of guest artists includes Austin?s Albert & Gage, accordionist Joel Guzman (The Flatlanders), guitarist Andrew Hardin (Tom Russell), percussionist Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees and REM), mandolin player Sharon Gilchrist (Tony Rice/ Peter Rowen), guitarist Ben Wright and vocalist Larkin Gayl. The title track, crooked, is wondrously simple: wise lyrics and fingerpicked acoustic guitar, backed by Albert & Gage?s soaring harmonies. A Momentary Thing, co-written with Bruce Donnola, is a bittersweet reflection of childhood. Maybe Superman, also written with Bruce, takes a humorous look at love from a window ledge 28 stories above Manhattan. Perhaps the most beautiful song on the album is One Spectacular Moon, co-authored with Jeff Talmadge. In addition to nine originals, Michaels includes four tunes by his favorite writers: Chad Elliott?s poignant Minnesota, amilia k spicer?s gorgeous Shine, David Glaser?s blessing to hard-touring musicians, Concrete River, and Christopher Smith?s sad and beautiful Gravedigger?s Boy. This is Michaels? best work yet. And Manson makes the best even better; no tricks, no sonic gimmicks, nothing but extraordinary songs performed by extraordinary artists. We smile knowingly as we recognize ourselves in Michaels? songs, songs with humor, heartache, romance, and above all, hope.
