Had
David Bromberg
been making new recordings all along, then
Try Me One More Time
would be a welcome addition to his catalog. An all-acoustic, solo set of
blues
and
folk
tunes -- one original, several
traditional
and the rest by established writers such as
Bob Dylan
,
Rev. Gary Davis
Robert Johnson
-- the album feels intimate, honest and earthy, and of course the guitar playing is never less than masterful. But
Bromberg
hadn't released a new album in a long 17 years when
hit, and because of that it's an underwhelming return. There is no denying that
, who basically gave up the road and the studio at the dawn of the '90s in order to become a violin maker, possesses an innate love for the roots
Americana
that populates his comeback album. And on its own merits, it's a satisfying enough listen -- he sounds perfectly comfortable within the familiar domain of this material. But therein lies the disappointment: he's too comfortable.
's interpretations show little imagination or ingenuity, and after such a lengthy sabbatical, fans would be right to expect something that displays growth and movement in an artist.
doesn't.
's Delta-style guitar work is, as always, note-perfect (the two instrumentals are a treat and his slide playing is sweet), but fans already know he can do that with his eyes closed. And while
, never much of a singer -- the voice is a bit more gravelly these days but otherwise unchanged -- is well-suited for the minimalist renditions of tracks like
Dylan
's
"It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry,"
Elizabeth Cotten
"Shake Sugaree"
Davis
'
"Trying to Get Home,"
there are no real surprises in how he handles those chestnuts. It's not that anyone expected
to come back and make a
hip-hop
record or something equally out of character, but while he undoubtedly enjoyed cutting these songs that have always been dear to his heart, there are few clues here as to what he's been up to for the nearly two decades he spent out of earshot. ~ Jeff Tamarkin