It's always presumptuous to write anything about great music...you need to listen to it to understand. But this latest effort by someone whose skills don't need too much explanation is worth the wait since "Hourglass".

Lots of the familiar in the work, but not formula riffs or chord progressions...not just old favorites remixed or rewritten. If you would like some deeper insight into some of the places and themes that you'll find in "October Road", then maybe you should read at least one biography of the artist...it's well worth the time.

You can sometimes hear the ocean or feel the movement of a ship in this music. You can detect the air getting a bit cooler as autumn approaches. Some of the tracks may stir feelings of sadness or longing, but there are other songs to lighten your heart as well.

The lyrics range from the roguishly clever to the outright nostalgic. Musically, you can expect the very fine production and sound quality that we've grown accustomed to when James Taylor shares his special gifts with us.

But aside from such "mundane" technical considerations, "October Road" is another wonderful work from an artist who pays particular attention to lyrical and musical excellence....and who understands a great deal about the fall of the year.

"October Road" is one of those typical JT albums like "Hourglass" that at first you go huh? You think to yourself when you first listen to the album that you don't hear a memorable song. But then as you are outside doing yardwork or maybe just walking along, one of the songs such as "September Grass" or "Whenever Your Ready" suddenly pops into your head and then you think to yourself that it's actually a pretty good song and/or album.
For those who have not heard "Sailing to Philadelphia" which he first sang with Mark Knopfler, formally of Dire Straits, on Knopfler's album of the same title, it is well worth buying the bonus cd, because this is the best song of the bunch. Not to say that "September Grass" and the other songs on the album aren't fine, but "Sailing to Philadelphia" is one of the most relaxing songs I know.
This is a cd that I found I could put the repeat button on and listen to it a few times over and not get sick of hearing the same songs over and over again. It offers a nice mix of James although there are no real stir you up songs like "Sweet Potato Pie" or "Steamroller" except for maybe "Belfast To Boston" which is in a way a stir you up song but it is done very mellowy. The album is more of the modern James, and you can hear the influences of his classical background on quite a few of the songs.
The only two songs I did not like were "Mean Old Man" which I found annoying, and pardon my Grinchness, but I am sick of hearing remakes of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" even if they are done by JT. Unlike "You've Got A Friend", or "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence" which were remakes of someone else's songs that sounded very different then the originals, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is not very new sounding. Overall I found this album to be a nice addition to my JT collection. -Wesley Spahr

Let me first say I was a little leary about buying this CD. Despite all the hype and praise that was piled on his last effort 'Hourglass', I personally felt (with the exception of the song 'Another Day') that album was a misstep. It seemed like a very forced effort. For example, the single 'A Little More Time with you' seemed like a half-hearted attempt by JT to write a hit song to please his label. It was nice to see JT receive the praise he did, but I felt it was for the wrong album.

That being said...'October Road' is JT back to his true form. What a great collection of songs. Lyrically, melodically, and production wise this album really shines. This could be remembered as one of his best that gets better with every listen.

There's only two songs that seem a little out of place in the collection..'Mean Old Man', which sounds like something he would perform on one of his Symphonic Tours next to 'Paper Moon' or 'Getting To Know You' and the closer 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas'...kind of an odd choice for the last track on an album released in August. (Maybe they should have put that track on the bonus disc in the limited edition package??)

The other 10 tracks on this album are fantastic. Producer Russ Titleman adds little touches to each song that really compliments them and sets them apart individually. From the slide guitar by Ry Cooder on 'October Road' to the vocal processing on 'Baby Buffalo'.

'October Road' was well worth the wait. Do yourself a favor..don't be leary. Definitely pick it up.

What makes this album one of his greatest since his "J.T." album is the colaborative effort between James and his Producer Russ Titelman. Russ, you'll remember, also was Co-Producer with Lenny Warronker on his best two albums "Gorilla" and "In The Pocket" in the mid 70's and hasn't sat in the Producer's chair since those days. We're glad he's back. Mainly because he's brought James' guitar back into the fore front of his songs and has also convinced him to sing backup harmonies on the majority of his songs - very reminiscent of his earlier albums (especially "Gorilla" and "In The Pocket").

Three classics right off the bat are "September Grass," "October Road," and "Traveling Song." All are solid melodies, with generous use of harmonies that weave in and out of James' sweet lead vocal and his backup band. Daughter Sally sounds great with James on "Traveling Song" which is one of my favorite tunes on the album. James' guitar arrangement of "September Grass" is vintage James Taylor work. It feels like a continuation of those classic albums. Dave Grusin (who wrote and played all the music from the movie "On Golden Pond") was brought in to create all the orchestral and string arrangements throughout the album. Dave does such an amazing job complementing James' songs its a wonder that he had never been tapped before this project to be a part of James' studio world.

"Mean Old Man" sounds like an old 40's standard and is a great message about change and that even the meanest old "cuss" can morph into a loveable "puppy dog." It seems to do a nice job preparing us for the great rendition he does to close the album with "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."

All in all, the "October Road" experience is a refreshing return to a familiar equation that worked so well in his early recording days - James's voice, his guitar and a few really talented family members and friends musically in the pocket on simple songs that comment on James' interesting life.

Definitely a must have!!!

At his concerts, JT often pokes fun at the fact that his fans hate new songs. He'll say, "Here's a new one," and when there is an audible signal of disappointment, such as an "Awwww," JT will respond, "I know -- I hate new songs too, but they sound just like all the old ones."

So it is always hard to put a new James Taylor cd in the stereo for the first time since you're so used to all of the classics. But this one only took a couple of listenings before I added it to my permanent cd repertoire. I play it nearly every day. My favorite tracks are "September Grass" and "Traveling Star." The only one that I am not too crazy about is "Belfast to Boston," but it is growing on me, so we'll see...

As the producer of the album states, James is at the height of his powers. His voice has NEVER been better than it is right now. And this album has more of a guitar focus than other more recent ones, so he also displays his formidable guitar skills. This cd is an instant classic for people of all generations.

Now how do we convince the man to record and release a Christmas album?