Search - Steve Forbert :: Just Like There's Nothin to It (Dig)

A Real Singer Songwriter

Moon Mullen | CT USA | 08/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great CD with serious songs written and perfomed with passion. As I get older it gets harder to find new music that stirs the soul despite a constant search for such. There just aren't as many singer song writers today making music for art v. profit. Steve Forbert is an exception. Any mid-lifers in the crowd will connect with these tunes as they reflect a lifetime of experience. "What it is is a Dream" and "Autumn This Year" are awesome songs. Good soul food indeed, Steve. Many thanks."

Forbert's Deepest, Most Satisfying Album To Date

Robert L. Smith | San Francisco, CA United States | 05/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been an ardent fan of Steve Forbert's work ever since his "folkie" debut, "Alive On Arrival," way back in 1978. Despite the burdensome "New Dylan" tag that has continued to dog him through the years, Forbert is simply not cut from that visionary cloth. However, I find in his songs something just as profound, a world view that--ultimately--hits much closer to home. He is the poet of the everyday frustrations of the average working stiff, a role he consistently excels at in beautifully crafted songs, with a rare blend of wit, ironic humor, keen observation, and real passion. "Just Like There's Nothin' To It," his first collection of all-new material in four years, finds him in top form. Although his voice is thinner and reedier than in his youth, it suits his new material beautifully. The songs themselves are brimming with the rich, precise wordplay which has won him so many loyal followers. This is perhaps his finest album to date--a welcome treat for long-time fans, and the ideal introduction for the neophyte."

Steve Forbert: About A Dream

Mike in IA | Des Moines, IA United States | 05/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Upon first listen, I'm struck at how consistent Steve Forbert is as a recording artist and "Just Like There's Nothin' To It" continues Forbert's streak of quality album releases. Who wouldn't include "There's Everybody Else (and Then There's You), "I Just Work Here", and "About A Dream" among Steve's greatest songs? The writing, arrangements, and the musicians fit together perfectly and it's wonderful to have a batch of brand new Steve Forbert songs after nearly four years. "I Married A Girl" is brilliant and the use of the melody from "Oh, To Be Back With You" is genius. The new piano melody for the "I Married A Girl" portion of the song is as strong as the melody from "Oh, To Be Back With You" and I think the two outstanding melodies put this song over the top - amazing, truly amazing. The piano is fantastic on the album and my jaw dropped the first time I heard this track. I'm sure there will be some people that feel that this song is a bit negative and I understand why they see the song in a negative light. I think Steve does an excellent job of finding a sort of closure, with a nod to acceptance, by the end of the song. After Steve performed this song live in Milwaukee on February 14, 2002, he commented that there's "two sides to every story and sometimes many, many more". Very true."I Just Work Here" is another song that really hits hard and I see it as a sort of "Responsibility, Part II". "I Just Work Here" is possibly the best "rock" song that Steve's recorded since "It Sure Was Better Back Then". I think nearly anyone that's been involved in a divorce, whether it be the mother, father, or child, will relate to this song on a number of levels. A wonderful bridge and subtle piano are the highlights of this track and it has a way of getting stuck in my head longer than I thought possible. It's hard not to look at many, if not all, of the songs on "Just Like..." as being autobiographical and wishing, as a listener, that I could not relate to the words being song. When I first heard "The World Is Full Of People", I immediately thought that it sounded like a Randy Newman song. Who can't picture Randy sitting at his piano working his way through this song with his trademark phrasing? I actually think that this song has a very cinematic quality to it and that it would work well in a movie with the main character drifting about town searching for "something". I also love the verse about the waitress in the coffee shop - classic Forbert - a true slice of life verse. I'm intrigued to see if Steve alters the live arrangement on the upcoming tour to make it somewhat similar to the studio version. This could be difficult to do since the studio take doesn't feature the acoustic guitar at all. With a quiet audience, I believe that it would be stunning to see this song performed live a cappella. "What It Is Is A Dream" and "About A Dream" are great bookends to the disc and continue Steve's long time discussion with his audience on the subject of dreams and the possibilities that they offer. There's a wonderful sound loop that runs in and out of "What It Is Is A Dream" that can be heard prominently as the song fades out. To my ears this sound reminds me of any beacon's signal that can be heard by those that need/want to hear it...much like a dream that can be lost if the person listening refuses to hear it's call. Edie Brickell's harmony vocals are as sweet as ever and truly shine silently on the songs that she contributes to. "About A Dream" has a beautiful "sleepy" quality in the instrumentation that perfectly fit the lyrics. It's a wonderful lullaby. I know "Wild As The Wind" is the first single from the album, but I think the true hit of this record is "There's Everybody Else (and Then There's You)". It's as if this song has existed since time began, floating around the universe until Steve caught it and decided to write it down for everyone to listen to. The melody sticks with the listener even after hearing the track for the first time...it's simple, yet complex, if that's possible. The lyrics have a universal quality that everyone can relate to...a perfect love song. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if this song becomes the most "covered" song in Steve's catalog.Live versions of "Wild As The Wind" date back to at least 2000 (if not earlier). It's nice to see a studio version of the song made available to the public and it truly shines with its use of "Band"-like backing vocals on the chorus and a wonderfully layered mix that allows Steve's vocal and the steel guitar to shine. I think any controversy that some are having with the lyrics to this song will be limited to fans of The Band and Rick Danko. After hearing the lyrics actually sung, it's apparent that Steve is not outright condoning Rick's behavior. It's my thought that we're getting a first person account of Steve's own experiences with Rick and Steve's vocal take tells the listener all they need to know about Steve's feelings about Rick Danko, the man, and his death.Overall, I believe that this is possibly Steve's most accessible album to date. It's bright musically, dark lyrically (in places) and is the type of record that you want to play again after track 12 fades out. It's excellent - not that I'd expect anything less."