****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
"Back to Birth" is a strong release by Jackie Greene. Somehow, he's got put into a niche as "Americana," but his melodic songwriting shines through. On this release, I can't find any songwriter credits, but I assume these are all Greene originals. Coming off his great association with Joan Osborne in the band Trigger Hippy, it's nice to have some of his recent solo work. The opener "Silver Lining" has a pretty midtempo melody with Jackie's vocals expressive and clear, "Don't think that the life we're living is easy; We travel around; Our feet don't touch the ground." The second track, "Now I Can See for Miles" may be the best on the set with its catchy hook and Reinhardt Weis's drums punching through between guitar jabs, "Like telescopes in search of hope, I was mystified by the way she spoke." "Trust Somebody" is also a stellar Greene classic with a touch of country swagger mixed with tangy blues and Jackie's piano building up to the addictive chorus, "When you're out of your mind, broken & blind, look at yourself; Do you like what you see? If you want something else, you better trust somebody." "Light Up Your Window" & "You Can't Have Bad Luck All the Time" are also gems. Enjoy!
