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The title says it all. Morrison has long eschewed the
fancy trappings that many of his contemporaries used to
decorate their music. Morrison as always goes for soul over
slick and delivers a strong collection of songs that, if
they aren't among his best, are more than good enough to
make this an entertaining addition to a Van Morrison fan's
collection. Morrison has never given up on his rhythm and
blues roots and turned his back on the music that inspired
him. As he's gotten older, he's gotten more cranky but also
even more direct in expressing his feelings either in a
lyric, in the music or in his performance. He's keeping
it simple because the simplicity of the performance and
his soulful performance always shines through even in material
that can occasionally be drab. ***
"Keep It Simple" won't hold any surprises for long
time fans and, perhaps, that's how it should be this late
in his career; he's found a style that fits him like a well
tailored suit. To expand beyond that style and try and incorporate
elements of contemporary rock or rhythm & blues would betray
the title which has become Morrison's philosophy over the
years. Aside from the fact that this is on a different label
than his last album, there isn't any interest in stretching
into new territory or becoming a stranger in a musical strange
land. That approach actually plays to Morrison's Irish soulfulness
and his musical strengths. That said, every album over the
past twenty-five odd years has stood or fallen on the quality
of the songwriting and how invested Morrison is in the material
he penned (the material from the beginning of his solo career
after leaving Them is an exception because he was defining
his musical boundaries). Luckily for fans, "Keep It Simple"
is largely a strong outing for Van the Man. The first track
starts off casually with the last number of Morrison's count
in for the beginning of the song caught just as the tape
rolls. "How Can a Poor Boy?" is as strong and bluesy sounding
as any of Morrison's best material. ***
"School of Hard Knocks" may have an uninspired title
and while the song itself doesn't push him into uncomfortable
territory (and lyrically it isn't any great shakes but it
does have a nice soothing melody). Heck, it could be an
old gospel standard that might have been sang by a chain
gang circa 1933. *** "That's Entrainment" features Morrison
playing ukulele and has a nice shuffling beat that reminds
me of the skiffle music that Morrison probably played in
his youth. It's unpretentious but pretty easy to sing along
with and enjoy. ***
"Don't Go to Nightclubs Anymore" is a bluesy look back
at Morrison's time spent in nightclubs and pubs having a
good time. It's also a recognition that his days of drinking
took too much out of him and he's an older man that doesn't
have the recuperative powers of a 21 year old. The song
is highlighted by a jazzy organ solo by John Allair. ***
"Love Come Back" has a nice bluesy, lilting melody.
It's a lazy Summer afternoon song that you can sing along
with on the porch with a nice soothing glass of cold lemonade.
The old school rhythm and blues backing vocals by Margot
Buchanan, Karen Hamil, Katie Kissoon, Stevie Lange and Jerome
Rimson are a highlight here. ***
The title tune opens with a bit of banjo, bass and
Van's gruff voice giving advice to all of us about what
matters. "End of the Land", "Song of Home", No Thing" continue
in the same vibe as much of what has come before. ***
"Soul" and "Behind The Ritual" close the album out
with some fine singing (and sax playing on the later by
Van) and nice guitar playing by Mick Green. Towards the
end of the song you'll hear Van singing barely recognizable
words--that's because its about the feeling of the song
(and maybe Van wants YOU to sing the words). It closes out
this solid outing from Morrison on a nice, feel good note.
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As far as the sound quality goes, "Keep It Simple"
isn't as loud as most stuff on CD today and has a richer
sound than any mp3 you can download. Call Van old fashioned
but he does recognize that volume is meaningless when it
comes to mastering this stuff. Is it louder than his recordings
from the 60's, 70's, 80's, etc. on CD from a couple decades
ago? Yeah but it isn't obnoxiously so. ---
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