Dark Matter
Fifty years into his career and Randy Newman’s songwriting is as sharp as ever. On his first album since 2008’s *Harps and Angels*, he balances sarcasm and sentiment, gorgeous orchestrations and his own deadpan vocal delivery. Newman takes us through debates between science and religion (the gospel-tinged “The Great Debate”), portraits of John F. Kennedy (“Brothers”) and wayward surfers (“On the Beach”), and the kind of bittersweet vignettes of American life that he does in ways few other writers can (the heartbreaking lullaby “Wandering Boy”).
Dark Matter is Randy Newman’s first album of new songs in nine years and his smart mix of cynicism and sentiment is fully intact.
Dark Matter is Randy Newman’s first album of new songs in nine years and his smart mix of cynicism and sentiment is fully intact.
Newman has a knack of being funny without you ever being quite sure why says Richard Godwin
Newman has a knack of being funny without you ever being quite sure why says Richard Godwin
Plus Brian Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets, James Vincent McMorrow – True Care, The Last Dinosaur – The Nothing, Ben Lukas Boysen and Sebastian Plano – Everything
Plus Brian Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets, James Vincent McMorrow – True Care, The Last Dinosaur – The Nothing, Ben Lukas Boysen and Sebastian Plano – Everything
There are three distinct aspects to the work of Randy Newman, and three different kinds of admirers. As a songwriting genius on par with Har...
There are three distinct aspects to the work of Randy Newman, and three different kinds of admirers. As a songwriting genius on par with Har...
Dark Matter’s triumph is that it hits you in the gut just as much as it resonates in the brain.
Dark Matter’s triumph is that it hits you in the gut just as much as it resonates in the brain.
Newman dives right in, quickly weeding out the fair-weather fans in favor of those willing to stick around for his particular brand of cringe-inducing observations.
Newman dives right in, quickly weeding out the fair-weather fans in favor of those willing to stick around for his particular brand of cringe-inducing observations.
The hangdog songsmith's latest LP swaps the political for the personal. Album review by Russ Coffey
The hangdog songsmith's latest LP swaps the political for the personal. Album review by Russ Coffey