Jonathan Richman
You Must Ask the Heart (Rounder) (star) (star) (star) 1/2
Although Richman’s nostalgia-seeped, stripped-down ditties may strike some as continued evidence of stunted growth, to these ears his simple songs are ringing truer all the time. Beneath his naive facade, Richman is a canny social observer who can cut to the heart of a gamut of emotions and yearnings. His depiction of the internal conflicts involved in lying (“To Hide a Little Thought”) is strikingly vivid, as is his weighing of the benefits of urban and rural lifestyles (“City Vs. Country”). With an affectionate wink, he sends up fashion trends (“I get so intrigued when they look like a vampire girl”), and his a cappella ode to old-time baseball pitcher Walter Johnson also doubles as a stinging commentary on the game today. Supported by spare, tastefully adorned arrangements, Richman’s nasal croon has gained authority, and throughout he maintains a delicate balance between wry-dopey and touchingly sincere. Too bad he couldn’t restrain himself from covering “The Rose.”
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Ratings: Excellent (Star) (Star) (Star) (Star) Good (Star) (Star) (Star) Fair (Star) (Star) Poor (Star)
