November 2008
Stewart opens with a song about Lord Salisbury, Prime Minister of England in the late 19th century, but he has interesting comments about more recent incidents. "Shah of Shahs" includes sharp observations about the Shah of Irans overthrow in 1979: "hell be damned if he will let them take away his perfect dream." As long as were on the topic of history (or, at any rate, the passage of time), Stewarts voice has aged very well indeed. He sounds virtually the same as he did 30 years ago. His calm voice is somehow reassuring in an age of American Idol over-emoting, as is his solid craftsmanship. Sparks of Ancient Light is warmly recorded and beautifully crafted. Stewart and Lawrence Juber are gifted guitarists who avoid clichés, and the rest of Stewarts band is very solid. I would not have thought that Al Stewart was an artist who had much to say in 2008, but anyone who can write a compelling song about Elvis seeing Stalins face in a passing cloud has plenty of life in him. GO BACK TO: |