release date: Jun. 22, 2010
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: Laurie Anderson with Lou Reed and Roma Baran
label: Nonesuch Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 2. "My Right Eye" - 5. "Only an Expert" (4 / 5) (live on Letterman) - 6. "Falling" - 7. "Another Day in America" - 9. "Dark Time in the Revolution" - 11. "The Beginning of Memory"
7th studio album by Laurie Anderson follows some 9 years after Life on a String (Aug. 2001), which means Anderson once again has extended the time span in between new studio albums. I think many people thought she may had given up on the idea of releasing studio albums, but here it is, 9 years after her previous album. Actually, this one had been appears to have been scheduled for release as early as in 2006 / 2007, however, as the tracks are founded on a live performance show that kept changing and evolving along the way, the actual release date was pushed forward.
My initial verdict was more negative. It's no secret that the music by Laurie Anderson requires a certain amount of attentive listening. After a couple of years - maturing as a bottle of wine - I now see this in a more positive perspective. It's highly founded on the lyrical side, which makes it a difficult musical work of art, but then again: Laurie Anderson is much more than 'just' a musician. As usual, there are many fine notions on modern life and on existentialism in general. It's definitely a recommended album, and frankly, I may just rate it higher... over time.
[ almusic.com, PopMatters, Slant 4 / 5, Los Angeles Times 4 / 4, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]
