The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #122764 Message #2695352
Posted By: maggie
07-Aug-09 - 07:25 AM
Thread Name: Review: Tim & Jenny Leaning - Thank You
Subject: Review: Tim & Jenny Leaning - Thank You
'Thank You' - Tim & Jenny Leaning
It's a difficult thing to do, write an honest critique of an album by a good friend. In order to achieve an unbiased piece, I will have to pretend I don't know that Tim is one of the most gentle of men it has been my delight to meet, and that Jenny is his soul-mate.
I listened to this album in the cold grey light of dawn – actually the sun is streaming in through my window – away from the bustle of a busy room full of musicians. Fifteen great songs, all of them originals, and I will not try to give an opinion of each – though I could! A lot of albums contain a number of 'good songs' and a few put in there to 'pad it out', but not this one, in my opinion, every track's a gem.
If the content of some of these songs were presented as 'short stories' they would stand up well as social commentary. Though the mirror they hold up to society does not always reflect well on us all. Man's inhumanity to man has been commented upon over the last few centuries, but Tim often finds new ways to show just how cruel life can be, especially to those at the lower end of the scale. Other tracks simply describe the love between him and Jenny, without any slushy sentimentality.
He then goes and puts it all to music! Original tunes too! All are played with an appropriate style, sometimes driving, sometimes gently flowing. Haunting accompaniment comes also from Jenny's wonderful whistle playing, and now and then some gentle piano-accordion played by Helen Bennett.
If ever I was asked to pick out tracks, it would be a hard task. However, if I must, I will draw your attention to "Circles" (track 7) which was the first song of Tim's I was aware of. This song covers life from the cradle to the grave – to coin a phrase! "Somebody's Missing Tonight" (track 12) is the perfect song when we remember loved ones who have moved off this mortal coil and has brought me to my own vale of tears, touching pain long suppressed. "Belt, Buckle & Steel" (track 13) tells of a disturbed childhood, living with a violent father who returns from the fishing fleet with beer in his belly and fire in his arm! The last on this selection "The Screw" (track 15) is a comment on our judicial system, and the 'revolving door' it seems to achieve.
This is an album I would confidently recommend to anyone with an open ear and a thoughtful mind. I bounce the title back to Tim & Jenny – Thank You !
Maggie Gee.