CD of the Week – Take the Weather with You – Jimmy Buffett

I’ll admit right from the start that I’m not exactly a parrothead. Buffett’s music just doesn’t engage me for some reason. Having said that, I don’t find it offensive either. He has a pleasant voice and has written some good songs – even if those songs tend to all sound the same after a while. But if Buffett is playing in the background, I can live with it. Which is a good thing because Buffett is always playing in our house or car thanks to you know who.

To me, he’s just one of those guys who has turned a modicum of talent and a big personality into a multi-gazillion dollar business. I can’t fault him for that – others have done more with much less…

Take the Weather with You, though, is a bit different. I actually like this record and would even recommend it.

I think this may be due to the songwriting – there are several covers and guest writers on this one. It has a different ‘feel’ than most of the Buffett I’ve heard. And believe you me, I’ve heard a lot!

Here’s my take:

“Bama Breeze” was a minor hit and is a pretty cool song.

The cover of Crowded House’s “Weather With You” is decent (but I prefer the original).

Knopfler’s “Whoop De Doo” is a very flat low point for me, surprisingly.

The Jesse Winchester, Mary Gauthier, and Merle Haggard songs are better than average, I’d say.

But the highlight of this CD is the cover of Gillian Welch’s “Elvis Presley Blues”. What a great song. And Jimmy does it just right. Why is it that all of Ms. Welch’s songs sound better when someone else sings them?

All in all, not my usual cup of tea. I mean, there’s not a screaming guitar of or a hint of angst to be found here but, what can I say, I like it.

Try it, you might too…