Track Listing:
Diamond in the Rough A- / Shotgun Down the Avalanche B+ / I Don't Know Why B+ / Cry Like an Angel B / Ricochet in Time A / Another Long One A- / Stranded / Something to Believe In B- / Don't You Think I Feel It To B / Kathy's Song B / Knowing What I Know Now B



Like a lot of musicians just starting out in the music industry, Shawn Colvin made a name for herself for live shows before the studio albums. And—lo and behold—she had already been performing live a lot of the songs that she'd eventually record for Steady On and Fat City. Wouldst thou like to hear what she sounded like at those live shows? If so, then you're in luck: This here album captures her live performances from the late '80s.

And this was what her live shows sounded like: Shawn Colvin singing with a mere acoustic guitar. It's not unlike Bob Dylan's early albums, except he was nice enough to also give us a harmonica! (And no, I'm not at all suggesting that Colvin should have harmonica on her albums. That wheezy instrument wouldn't mesh well at all with Colvin's blue-sky vocals.) If you think the prospect of Colvin singing with a bare acoustic guitar would be boring, then you're probably right and should keep away from this album. This thing is only for her true-blue fans.

And I like Shawn Colvin—really I do—but I wouldn't call myself a true-blue fan. Maybe a passing fan, more like. I'm going to go actually see her live in a coupla weeks, after all. The obvious problem with acoustic-only live albums is that there isn't a whole lot of variety to the way the songs sound. At least there is a nice variety of quick tunes and slow tunes that are interspersed throughout, and she was a talented enough of a songwriter that the melodies are generally distinctive from one another.

She's also a good enough live performer that I'm undecided whether I prefer the studio versions over the live versions. One thing in its favor is that the recording quality is utterly flawless... being from 1988 and all. Also, the audience is very polite, allowing Colvin to sing her quiet songs without making a peep other than to applause nicely when her songs are through. The other boon of these live recordings is that none of them are washed out with those dreary synthesizers. That explains why—for the first time ever—I've come to enjoy “I Don't Know Why.” A gently textured acoustic guitar simply suits it better.

Hearing another version of “Ricochet in Time” proves how underrated I think that song is in Colvin's repertoire. It's such a pretty song, and the melody flows like the water of a calm brook. Everyone and their pet puppies think Shawn Colvin's best moments lie somewhere around “Polaroids” or “Shotgun Down the Avalanche.” But **PISH** to that, I say! “Another Long One” is another excellent moment, and it surprises me that I like it despite its lack of xylophone and hi-hat (which were the two reasons I said I liked it in my review of Steady On).

Then there are a few songs I was never really wild about, and my opinions of them haven't wavered one iota here. “Something to Believe In” really does nothing for me. I know Shawn Colvin's true-blue fans will cite the lyrics as the reason for liking the song... But seriously, a song has to musically engage me somehow before I start paying attention to the lyrics! (That's a probable flaw on my part, but … oh that would be one of my many, many flaws and not even a very important one.) A couple nice additions of the album are two covers that were not included in Cover Girl: Dave Ball's “Don't You Think I Feel It Too” and Simon & Garfunkel's “Kathy's Song.” Both are pretty lackluster, though.

What'll make the Shawn Colvin fan particularly giddy is the addition of “Knowing What I Know Now,” an original that was never recorded in the studio. It's a nice song to close the album, but I don't find it especially interesting. Maybe true-blue Shawn Colvin fans like it for the lyrics, or something. 10/15

Recommended: Yes