Customer Reviews
VAN THE MAN STILL PRODUCING TIMELESS MUSIC - By: P. Clack, 23 Jun 2008 
Very simple review this..absolutely fantastic set from a legend,one of the best singer-songwritersin the history of popular music,jazz & blues.Beautifully produced,great band throughout & Van on absolutely top form....5 stars & then some,among albums of the year surely.
"ALMOST VANTASTIC" - By: R. G. Philpott, 18 Jun 2008 THIS ALBUM IS BACK TO THE VAN MORRISON I LIKE. THE VOCALS ARE GREAT
YES HE MOANS AND GROANS, HOWEVER, I PAY FOR THE MUSIC AND THE LYRICS ARE
FIRST CLASS. THE OUTSTANDING TRACKS FOR ME ARE "KEEP IT SIMPLE", "SONG OF HOME" AND "BEHIND THE RITUAL" HERE'S TO THE NEXT ONE
Where's The Muse? - By: Linden Arden, 07 May 2008 
Oh dear. Another mediocre album. Van can knock album's like this out with his eyes closed. What happened to the creative muse? The lyrics are banal & it's a real plodder. Contains yet more 'hard done by' songs which are tiresome. Guess I'll just have to keep listening to classic Van - St Dominic's, Moondance, Tupelo Honey and, yes, Hard Nose The Highway.
Understated and consistent - By: Magic Rat, 24 Apr 2008 
While I wouldn't say this is a "return to form", as is always applied to reasonably appealing albums by old stagers, I would say that it has substantially more to recommend it than "Pay The Devil" & much of "Magic Time". All the cuts are solid & while lyrically treading the same old paths, the delivery (as always) & the musicianship raise them above the ordinary. There is a lovely effortlessness on this album. Yes, I know old Van can trot tunes like these outin his sleep, but somehow there is a bit more verve & vigour about this collection. Stylistically he's too old to change now, but what the heck.
I have to disagree with a previous reviewer & say that "Behind The Ritual" is a captivating cut, as is "Soul" & "End Of The Land". "Don't Go To Nightclubs Any More" is a great slow burning blues, & "That's Entrainment" has the obligatory Morrison moaning about thingsin general.
I like this album a lot, it grows with each play & is not destined for a few plays then nothing. It is a laster, I think.
Very listenable - By: lmhh, 12 Apr 2008 I don't really have a history with Van Morrison. I know a few of his hits but have not been a huge fan so I don't know how this compares with his earlier material. What I can say though is that this is a very easy album to listen to & one which is growing on me each time I play it. It's mellow,laid back grown up music & I like it a lot.
