John Wesley Harding
New Deal
(DRT)
First Appeared in The Music Box,
July/August 1996, Volume 3, #5
Written by John Metzger
John Wesley Harding's previous efforts have been good,
though they largely have appropriated the style of
Elvis Costello. On New Deal, Harding departs from
mere replication in order to broaden his range, and the result is an excellent
collection of material. It's a more subtle affair, but his stellar wit and masterful lyrical
abilities remain intact. Touches of The Moody Blues
drift throughout the endeavor, while In Paradise
borrows heavily from The Kinks' Waterloo Sunset. Perhaps Harding caught Ray Davies'
recent tour? Oddly, New Deal has yet to receive much attention from
radio stations, but the infectious nature of his previous outing Why We Fight
ignites the gentle To Whom It May Concern as well as the springy Kiss Me, Miss Liberty. 
New Deal is available from Amazon.com.
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Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 1996
The Music Box
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