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Rating: Sure, we lost the best of Van Morrison more than twenty years ago (it was 1986 when "No Guru, No Method, No Teacher" came out), and it's true that that Van Morrison will never come back.
However, it's equally true that someone who has abundantly demonstrated skill and musical competence cannot suddenly become lackluster without a real cause. Therefore, even when inspiration slightly falters, technical-musical discipline unexpectedly emerges. This is indeed the case with Van Morrison.
The Irish author of masterpieces like "Astral Weeks" or "Into the Music", after a self-celebratory phase ("A night in San Francisco" is essentially a near-manic celebration of himself and his music), returns to the recording studio with brilliant ideas and some professional touches. The result is "Days Like This", a very interesting album, pleasantly enjoyable, but lacking the real stroke of genius that turns a good album into a masterpiece.
"Days Like This" immediately appears less genuine and effervescent compared to albums, not perfect but better, like "Beautiful Vision", and the whole seems like a decent little lesson on how music should be conceived in the era of sophisticated computerism and low-cost art. In short, almost a routine work, if not for a handful of impressive standout tracks: "Perfect Fit", "Songwriter", "Raincheck".
Very much r&b, decent rhythmic elucidations, and perhaps the most representative track of the nineties' Morrison: "Ancient Highway", a long, almost epochal ballad where Van Morrison gives vent to his irrepressible poetic and musical strength for almost 9 minutes. Excellent, as always, the musical accompaniment: beautiful rhythms, elegant sounds, effervescent horn sections brilliantly arranged (after all, under the expert eye of Pee Wee Ellis, one could expect nothing but a good job). And as always, generous like few, Morrison gives space to Shana, letting her duet with dad on a couple of blues/jazz covers, "I'll never be free" and "You don't know me".
Undoubtedly the album might raise some eyebrows among those fans who went wild listening to "Caravan" or "Come Running", but expecting a masterpiece from Morrison today is almost impossible. Having settled on a decent level but certainly not epochal, the Irish artist tries, sometimes succeeding, to captivate his audience by seducing them with gentle and delightful harmonies, making ample use of that cunning and craft that, naturally, he does not lack.
But it is admirable, despite the many flaws found in albums like "Days Like This", how Van Morrison never tries to stray and pursue trends, adapting very little (in fact, never adapting) to the false myths of modern music success (dance, continuous radio play, youthful slang) and continues, with strength, to assert his concept of serious and structured music. Perhaps risking recording some slightly useless tracks, but always flaunting, with strength and confidence, his indomitable will not to conform and not follow market rules: he is certainly recognized for a fundamental consistency and a good dose of courage. And that is not a small thing.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Russian Roulette (04:00)
Take it or leave it I've heard it been said
All this Spring fever's just way over my head
Stealing my moments, taking up all my time
It's playing Russian Roulette with my mind
It's none of my business baby just what's going on
I'm not going to wait till somebody throw me a bone
I'm way out on a limb now, and nothing seems to rhyme
It's playing Russian Roulette with my mind
I think that you've caught on, that you've been used and all
I'm going down New Orleans, I've got to see Dr. John
Got my mojo working everything will be fine
Stop playing Russian Roulette with my mind
It's not easy baby when everything starts getting out of control
Hang on your hat now, hang on to your soul
Don't worry baby, I wanna throw you the line
They're playing Russian Roulette with your mind
Too many hustlers, I've been here before
None of them really know just who that you are
Everything gets contracted and space gets confined
They're playing Russian Roulette with your mind
They're playing Russian Roulette
They're playing Russian Roulette
They're playing Russian Roulette with your mind
They're playing Russian Roulette
They're playing Russian Roulette
They're playing Russian Roulette with your mind
03 Raincheck (05:55)
It's not high finance, it's called heart and soul
If it's rock and roll, got to go, go, go, go, go
Gonna keep moving on up to the higher ground
Gonna keep on moving on up, I got to stand my ground
Gonna keep on moving on up, I wanna stick around
Won't let the bastards grind me down
Won't let the bastards grind me down
Won't let the bastards grind me down
Call me raincheck in the afternoon
Call me raincheck, need a shot of rhythm and blues
Call me raincheck, on a golden autumn day
Call me raincheck, I won't fade away, I won't fade away
I don't fade away, I don't fade away, unless I want to
Can't take my love away, ah 'cause it's here to stay
If it fades away, come back another day
Gonna keep on moving on up to the higher ground
Gonna keep on moving on up, I wanna stick around
Gonna keep on moving on up, oh gonna stand my ground
Won't let the bastards grind me down
Won't let the bastards grind me down
Won't let the bastards grind me down
My name is raincheck in the afternoon
My name is raincheck, need a shot of rhythm and blues
My name is raincheck, on a golden autumn day
My name is raincheck, and I don't fade away, I don't fade away
I don't fade away, I don't fade away, unless I want to
Move it up, move it up, move it up, move it up
Move it up, move it up, move it up, move it up
Move it up, move it up, move it up, move it up, move it up
Grind me down, grind me down, grind me down
My name is raincheck in the afternoon
My name is raincheck, need a shot of rhythm and blues
My name is raincheck, on a golden autumn day
My name is raincheck, and I don't fade away, I don't fade away
I don't fade away, I don't fade away, unless I want to
Put on your dancing shoes, dance away your blues
When I'm feeling like this, I got nothing to lose
Wanna keep on moving on up to the higher ground
Wanna keep on moving on up and I'll stick around
Wanna keep on moving on up, got to stand my ground
Won't let the bastards grind me down
Won't let the bastards grind me down
Oh, won't let the bastards grind me down
My name is raincheck in the afternoon
My name is raincheck, need a shot of rhythm and blues
My name is raincheck, on a golden autumn day
My name is raincheck, and I don't fade away, I don't fade away
I don't fade away, I don't fade away, unless I choose
I choose, I choose, I choose
No, I don't fade away, I don't fade away, I don't fade away
Unless I choose, I choose, I choose
I choose, I choose, I choose
I choose, I choose, I choose
I choose, I choose, I choose
I choose, I choose, I choose
No, I won't fade away, I won't fade away, I don't fade away
Unless I want to
07 Songwriter (02:51)
I'm a songwriter and I know just where I stand
I'm a songwriter, pen and paper in my hand
Get the words on the page
Please don't call me a sage,
I'm a songwriter
I'm a songwriter and I do it for a living
I'm a songwriter and I write about men and women
I can write about love and the stars up above
I'm a songwriter
I'm a songwriter and I'm hot on your trail
I'm a songwriter and my cheque's in the mail
I can move with the scene, I can make up a dream
I'm a songwriter
Na na na nana, na na na nana
I'm a songwriter I can do it for certain
I'm a songwriter even do it when I'm hurtin'
And if it comes to the bit, have to write another hit
I'm a songwriter
I'm a songwriter I can put it in words
I'm a songwriter and it's not for the birds
I can spin you a yarn, it's as long as my arm
I'm a songwriter
Na na na nana, na na na nana
I'm a songwriter
Na na na nana, na na na nana
I'm a songwriter
08 Days Like This (03:17)
When it's not always raining there'll be days like this
When there's no one complaining there'll be days like this
When everything falls into place like the flick of a switch
Well my mama told me there'll be days like this
When you don't need to worry there'll be days like this
When no one's in a hurry there'll be days like this
When you don't get betrayed by that old Judas kiss
Oh my mama told me there'll be days like this
When you don't need an answer there'll be days like this
When you don't meet a chancer there'll be days like this
When all the parts of the puzzle start to look like they fit
Then I must remember there'll be days like this
When everyone is up front and they're not playing tricks
When you don't have no freeloaders out to get their kicks
When it's nobody's business the way that you wanna live
I just have to remember there'll be days like this
When no one steps on my dreams there'll be days like this
When people understand what I mean there'll be days like this
When you ring out the changes of how everything is
Well my mama told me there'll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There'll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There'll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There'll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There'll be days like this
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