Harps and Angels
Randy Newman came out with a new studio album this past week, his first in nine years. It was worth the wait. I first heard Randy when I saw Toy Story back in the first grade. I didn’t know who he was at the time but the music stuck with me and I really discovered his music only a few years ago.
Like his previous albums, Harps and Angels has that trademark Randy Newman sound: a beauty and sentimentality of the music, combined with sharp wit, observations, and satire in the lyrics. The styles of music range from showtunes, Dixieland jazz, country, and just some of the most beautiful bluesy piano music I’ve heard. There’s great storytelling in the lyrics, along with personal observations and situations, and commentary on America. Almost the songs are good, many great. The only clunker is A Piece of the Pie, it’s a really hectic and disorienting song, but I guess it goes along with the lyrics. Anyway, this album is highly recommended. Go buy it! A breakdown of the songs after the jump.
