Randy Newman - Harps & Angels

Good to have you back old boy

In January 2007 the New York Times took the bold step of printing an abridged lyric of a then-unreleased song as an “opinion editorial” piece. It was Randy Newman’s A Few Words In Defense Of Our Country (sic) and it became an internet sensation, with Newman’s caustic wit gaining an unlikely but appreciative audience.

It set the scene for Newman’s first song-based record since 1999’s Bad Love. Harps & Angels is a tour de force of intellect and musicality. It has moments of hilarity (A Piece Of The Pie’s reference to Jackson Browne’s social conscience) that, like the most effective humour, deal with serious issues. Newman has never shied from confronting such matters, dealing with American identity, senile memory loss and foreign affairs with humour and a conversational ease, putting lesser songwriters to shame. A brace of ballads, Losing You and Feels Like Home, are tender moments reminding us of Newman’s way with bittersweet matters.

His film work has clearly stood him in good stead: there’s a theatricality here to many of the arrangements, with Dixieland dance interludes, Oriental flavours and a patriot’s choir among the elements vying for attention. Rating with the best of Newman’s work, let’s hope the wait isn’t too long for the next.

5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars

Nonesuch | 122812

Reviewed by Jamie Atkins
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