Compare Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine

What's instantly noticeable and commendable about this tribute to the songwriting of is that none of the artists chosen to do the honors are contemporaries of the author. , in his early sixties at the time of the album's release, had been a fixture on the singer/songwriter scene since the early '70s, long before most (any?) of the participants were even born. That's a smart move by the compilers: by removing the context in which these songs were first written and recorded, the younger artists were free to reinterpret them on their own merits. Issued simultaneously with 's own live album, completes a retrospective picture of 's accomplishments to the date of this release. Some of the performers choose from among 's better-known material, while others dig deeper into the catalog. 's take on is reminiscent of the early music of , old-timey yet contemporary too. The album opens with of , who brings a faraway gospel feel to the title track of a 1978 album, and it closes with ' surfy take on one of 's more humorous efforts, Some of the most impressive interpretations veer from 's arrangements: and turn up the indie rock volume on give a bar band rawness to 's is low-key and imbued with an easygoing rural quality, turn into an alt-country singalong, and (featuring ) are reminiscent of ' duets with their front-porch ~ Jeff Tamarkin