Love Is Strange
A casual listener might find it easy to dismiss this album as safe, decent but unremarkable pop music. While it will certainly not be confused for an album that came out yesterday, it is nevertheless top flight stuff from Kenny Rogers; safe and decent, perhaps, but anything but unremarkable. Each song is solidly constructed, with some real harmonic gems. Rogers' delivery is marvelously polished, as always. Soldier of Love and What I Did For Love are upbeat songs with driving beats and excellent melodies. The title song is Rogers having some fun with Dolly Parton. In Our Old Age and So Little Love in the World are also melodic genius. And the lyrics on most of the songs here are remarkably profound, genuine poetry that is such a refreshing change from the shallow 'whatever-rhymes' music that we hear so often today. All in all, a great great album, highly recommended.