First spin via download on my commute home. Physical copy coming tomorrow. Musically it grabbed me more so than most of his recent efforts (with exceptions of course). Need to come to grips with it but I’d say 7.5 out of 10. I think the last true 10 was Mock Tudor, with Dream Attic just behind.

PS-I don’t utterly hate the cover. Deliberately cheesy I’d say!

Just giving it a first spin and I sort of agree with you. It will of course need several plays to really settle in and there are obviously some good songs here but it does feel as though RT's 21st century output has become a bit generic. The last albums I really connected with were Mock Tudor and The Old Kit Bag, though Dream Attic was conceptually interesting and Sweet Warrior & Still had moments.

It is at least less disappointing than the new Crowded House album wherein Neil Finn continues the struggle to write a memorable melody which has been ongoing since his third solo album (after writing dozens of them in the preceding 20 years).

Artimus Pyle Band - July 9, The Haute (pronounced "Hot") Spot, Cedar Park.

He was Lynyrd Skynyrd's third drummer, after Rickey Medlocke (early 1970s) and Bob Burns (drummer on "Pronounced" and "Second Helping"). Artimus played on "Nuthin' Fancy," "Gimme Back My Bullets," "One More From the Road" and "Street Survivors." He survived the plane crash in 1977, and joined the band for the Tribute Tour, which I saw at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, August 1988. By his account, he was *drummed* out of the band by Ronnie Van Zant's widow, reuniting only for the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame induction. In a recent interview, he complained that the succession of LS replacement drummers don't play his parts properly. He's not shy.

He expresses pride in the quality of his current band, which plays mostly Skynyrd and some originals. I might check this out, especially because prices are very reasonable.

Just announced - Ray LaMontagne at ACL Live September 19! Must buy tickets next week.

Squeeze/Boy George at the Moody Amphitheater, August 27. Must buy tickets soon.

Exactly the problem for me.  It sounds like 'just another RT album'.  Of course, it's not awful - very far from it, but you think you've heard every single track on it before, and you sort of have.  6/10 and I'm being generous.

If his signed books are anything to go by that's his signature these days...a hint of an R and T and not much else.

Picked up a copy from Badlands in Cheltenham today. The front bears 2 squiggles (as far as I can tell, not printed?), so I wonder if this is supposed to be an RT signature...

The new release by double bass player Ben Nicholls. Titled Duets it is, unsurprisingly, collaborations with various well known folkies most of whom I'm guessing he's played or recorded with including Jon Boden, Cara Dillon & Sam Lakeman, Martin Simpson, Kris Drever and Fay Hield. It includes a nice version of Down Where the Drunkards Roll with John Smith.

Damned if he plays VBL, damned if he doesn't.
What's a master songsmith who's never really had a hit to do ?
Play what's arguably his nearest equivalent.

Just booked for the Albion Christmas Band gig at Barton 23 December
They have twice as many original Fairport members as Fairport have managed since Richard left