release date: Oct. 27, 1987
format: vinyl (924 160-1) / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,86]
producer: Daniel Lanois, Robbie Robertson
label: Geffen Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Fallen Angel" - 2. "Showdown at Big Sky" - 3. "Broken Arrow" - 5. "American Roulette" - 6. "Somewhere Down the Crazy River" (4,5 / 5) - 8. "Sonny Got Caught in the Moonlight"
Studio album debut by former guitarist and songwriter of legendary roots rock and rhythm & blues band - The Band - Robbie Robertson (aka Jaime Royal Klegerman). Together with Alex North, Robertson stood behind the official soundtrack for the movie "Carny" (1980 - directed by Robert Kaylor), in which he also played one of the leading parts. That movie is one in a long series of films for which he contributed as either composer, music producer or music consultant.
Musically, Robertson successfully builds bridge between his roots within traditional r&b, americana and more modern styles of alt. rock and art pop. The album is cleverly produced in the hands of Robertson and Lanois, the latter, who at this point already is an established successful producer, and together with Brian Eno he aided U2 in reaching its position as one of the most original acts of alt. rock of the mid to late '80s. And especially the sound of U2 is ever-present on this without too much plagiarising. The Irish quartet also take part on at least two of the album's nine compositions. Track #4 "Sweet Fire of Love" is co-written by Robertson and U2 but basically sounds like a U2 song and track #9 is a Robertson song only sounding as if made entirely by U2. Old associates Rick Danko and Garth Hudson of The Band feature on two of the songs, and the album also includes established artists like Peter Gabriel, Maria McKee, Ivan Neville, Manu Katché, BoDeans, Martin Page, and Gil Evans.
Altogether, the album is a warm return of Robbie Robertson, and the album was nominated "Best Rock / Vocal Album" at the Grammy Awards.
In retrospect, the album remains Robertson's clearly best solo effort.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, SputnikMusic 4,5 / 5 ]
