Steve Martin & Edie Brickell "Love Has Come For You"

 

I was intrigued by this pairing, enough so to stay up late and catch them on a late night show.  Martin has made his living on being flakey, Brickell just comes off as such.  It was a chance meeting at a party when Martin asked Brickell to listen to a melody he'd written but couldn't find words suitable for lyrics.  She began improvising lines and it became their first official collaboration.  A few months later and a complete album comes to fruition...a short album (13 songs @ 36 minutes) but an album, nonetheless.  I had it on my "investigate" list when BKP dropped it on me two months ago.  Though it took a while to get to my vehicle, I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable the project was.  I had curiosity as prime motivation...never in a million years did I dream I'd keep it all...but I am.



So the opening track contains the line, "send me an email."  That's right, don't expect all traditional bluegrass lyrics and songs from this album, though there are plenty.  I like the not-so-normal ones...



Mrs. Simon sure appears to be having fun.  The concerts have lots of laughs, both verbal and musical.  The Steep Canyon Rangers are a fine troop of musicians and one of the remaining twenty dates over the next three or so months will include an orchestra.  Now that will probably kick ass because there are numerous strings on the album, not just fiddle.  Guests on the studio recording include Matt Rollings (whose keyboards grace hundreds of records since the mid-80's), Esperanza Spalding,  Waddy Wachtel, and the Watkins siblings of Nickel Creek.  While playing some of this in the car with Mrs. Rocker, she remarked at how clean and clear the recording was.  I tried to tie in the producer for her using Brickell's husbands' Simon & Garfunkel pairing along with fellow 60's-era duo Peter & Gordon.  Nothing.  "Well, his name is Peter Asher," and wifey blurted out, "James Taylor!"  Sometimes, she scares me. 

"Love Has Come For You" is the Surprise Of The Year, so far...