Jimmy LaFave - The Night Tribe

by Carl Bookstein

published: 22 / 7 / 2015

Label: Music Road Records
Format: CD

Well executed album and tribute to dwellers of the night on new album from Oklahama-based singer-songwriter, Jimmy LaFave

Review

From waitresses in all night diners to after midnight radio DJs, Jimmy LaFave dedicates his latest album to those that inhabit the nocturnal hours - workers and inspiration seekers alike. The album title 'The Night Tribe' is also a nod to the name of the band he has used since his early days playing music in Oklahoma. The opener, 'The Beauty of You', is soft and easy flowing from the get go, capturing images of tall pine trees and snow capped mountains, looking up at the Milky Way in a world filled with wonder: “Always taken by the magic of every single day.” The number includes inspired piano playing and a steady drum beat. Starting out with a simple acoustic guitar strum, 'Maybe' builds in momentum; LaFave singing about a hopeful love in plain spoken and honest tones. A rich evocative Neil Young cover, 'Journey through the Past' finds LaFave singing about the winter rains pouring down: “Will I still be in your eyes and on your mind?” With lyrics about going back up to Canada, fluid piano notes again accentuate the mood. 'Talk to an Angel' is a sad and tender ballad, followed by 'Queen Jane Approximately', an inspired take on the stellar Bob Dylan classic from 'Highway 61 Revisited'. LaFave does a fine job with both the singing and capturing the poignant mood of the original. The lyrical question “Won’t you come see me Queen Jane?” washes over the listener plesantly. The inspired title track 'The Night Tribe', includes some stinging electric guitar and is an ode to the shades and shadows of the nocturnal world. Conjuring the ghost of Woody Guthrie, 'Dust Bowl Okies' is a fine, rollicking folk blues number with images ranging from the land where the buffalo roam to spending some time in Tulsa town. The heartfelt closer 'The Roads of the Earth', a moving travel song, finds LaFave ending on a high note: “I know you will rise above and fill the world with love as you move around the great big universe.” It is a pure sentiment from a solid album, ringing true.

Track Listing:-

1 The Beauty of You
2 Maybe
3 Journey Through the Past
4 It's Not on Me
5 Trying to Get Back to You
6 Talk to an Angel
7 Queen Jane Approximately
8 Island
9 The Night Tribe
10 The Night Tribe
11 Smile
12 Dust Bowl Okies
13 The Roads of the Earth