In the UK we have a well-established brand of assorted chocolates called Quality Street which are virtually embedded in our national consciousness. Each tin of it, (often bought by families at Christmas), offers a selection of choices, of soft-centres, nuts and toffees, all wrapped in differently shaped and coloured wrappers. Nobody, but nobody, likes every flavour, and people will tend to sift through the tin every time that it's passed to them in search or their own personal favourites, leaving the selections they personally disdain for other poor unfortunates or someone who actually favours that choice.
For me the recently released The Lookout, incredibly the tenth solo album from American Folk stalwart an experience akin to the Quality Street conundrum. I'm finding it impossible to love it all. The record seems to me to be largely about trying to work out how to maintain grace and personal integrity in a world that's increasingly ugly and random. Some tracks have a serene spooky quality that I'm much drawn to. Others come across as rather worthy and staid.
Uncut Album of the Month a couple of issues back,it's a worthy recipient but not all of it chimes with my personal tastes. So I'd recommend that you seek out Everybody Needs You, Seven Falls, Watch Fire, The Meadow and Lightning Rod as the kernel of the record I'd like to have heard. As with a tin of Quality Streets there's much to greatly enjoy.
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