Late For The Sky
by Jackson Browne

THE most underrated album in music. The instrumentation is nothing to write home about save the wonderful steel guitar, but THE LYRICS are some of the best ever written. It's like being broken up with and having a series of epiphanies through fits of crying. Knowing that you both tried your best, but it just wasn't good enough, and it might not ever be.

But you carry on anyway, through all of your dreams having been shattered, and knowing that the rest of your life will probably be a disappointment too.

Many consider this Browne's finest album. Perhaps. It has a sweet, elegiac quality that's pleasantly soothing in that singer-songwriter kind of way. Browne and David Lindley contribute some lovely guitar work. Recommended.

-Singer-songwriter craftmanship pur sang-

The definite highlight of his career and hands down the best album the early 70's singer-song writer wave had to offer. Thpugh not purely sticking to the man and a guitar format. These songs tie in themes such as loss of loved ones and romaticism in a pre-apocalyptic world. It offers a mature view on death. A dimmed one on Life. The protestant preachy style is very unique and perfectly in line with Brownes voice. The sheer pureness the songs are sung remains unmatched by contemporaries such as Randy Newman or James Taylor.
An album that can move someone to tears.

Key tracks

Late for the sky
For a Dancer
Farther On
Before the Deluge

(Edited)

To give a non-fan perspective, I have to say that I just don't get this album. If I listened hard, I am sure the lyrics would be poetic and betray a very decent, perspicacious, human man behind them. But...this is meant to be music, not poetry first and foremost, and I find its melodies/tunes lack anything to impress my ears, being instead an easy listening, if rather dreary and directionless, dare I say it, mediocrity. Pleasant-ish, but lacking in even an occasional spark.

Jackson Browne's greatest album. It's a stunningly beautiful record featuring some of Browne's best ever compositions. The title track is excellent, my favourite of all his songs, but there is plenty more on offer here. Fountain of sorrow, for a dancer, and, before the deluge, are three other standouts on an album full of them, although, walking slow, is easily the weakest track. Still, if you want the ultimate country rock record, this is the place to start.