Gordon Lightfoot

A Painter Passing Through

painter passing through

Review Score:

(8/10)
A good collection of songs. A laid-back album that honestly doesn't try too hard but still comes out well. Gordon has aged, but I think we're lucky he's still making albums - so many people here have written how Gordon's music accompanied them through life, and here we have the opportunity in turn to accompany an accomplished singer-songwriter into the later stages of a career that has meant so much to so many. The songs bear out these reflections: Painter Passing Through, Drifters, Uncle Toad Said - all express familiar Lightfoot themes in a satisfying way. This was also true of his Waiting for You album, which is disappointingly out of print and which was very satisfying, to my mind - even more so than Painter.

True, some of the lyrics are disappointing because they strike me as first draft lyrics - I have tried but can't really appreciate Yonge Street, and still have trouble with Ringneck Loon. Overall on Painter, the production is good - the sound quality crisp, although not centering quite as much on guitar as I would like.

And as far as his voice goes, it's not the rich baritone that he started with, but what do you expect? He's been steadily touring for 35 YEARS, and if that doesn't wear a voice down I don't know what would. But again, I listen to his voice and can still hear the old Gordon Lightfoot in there, and I appreciate that I can follow him through this stage of his life.

I, for one, am glad to have this album.

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