Covenant (CD - 2000)

Personnel: Greg Brown (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Bo Ramsey (electric guitar); Eric Heywood (pedal steel); Rob Arthur (Wurlitzer piano, organ); Dave Jacques (acoustic & electric bass); Steve Hayes (drums, percussion).

Recorded at Pachyderm Studio, Cannon Falls, Minnesota.

If you still haven't discovered Greg Brown, this is as good a place to start as any. His deep, vibrant voice -- as instantly recognizable as that of Fred Neil, Tim Buckley, or Van Morrison -- remains a national treasure, and so does his songwriting, which has gone from great to better over the years. Wisely keeping the production simple and his voice upfront on this release, he unveils some of his best songs about love, life, friendship, dreams, and the American scene. There are no major departures from form here, but hope and love -- not to mention hummable melodies -- are perhaps in greater evidence than in the past. There's not a rotten apple in the bunch, but highlights include the effusive "Rexroth's Daughter"; "Lullaby," about a long-married couple; and the lilting "Walkin' Daddy." And stay tuned after the album's official end for a "hidden" track, the very funny "Marriage Chant," whose lyrics offer a sort of modern variation on Rodgers and Hart's "I Wish I Were in Love Again." ~ Jeff Burger

Greg "Iowa's Bob Dylan" Brown seemed to reach an artistic pinnacle with 1997's SLANT 6 MIND, a dark, angular record full of sharp, poetic observations and spiky accompaniment. That album's successor COVENANT feels like a step away from the rumbling darkness to a more contemplative mood that leaves room for romance.

There's a muted, almost hypnotic feel to the album. Brown's band practices the utmost restraint throughout, and the folk/blues feel remains pretty consistently low-key. Most of the lyrics are simpler, less image-laden than before, focusing instead on the ins and outs of love, family, and friendship. "Real Good Friend" is an effectively bluesy declaration of devotion, while "Waiting on You" utilizes Mississippi John Hurt-like guitar to frame its torch-ballad lyrics, and the roadhouse grind of "Blues Go Walking" finds the narrator ill at ease, even in ostensibly serene circumstances. As always, Brown's deep, soulful growl of a voice makes every word utterly convincing and compelling. minimize