Are You With Me

by

Paul Thorn

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I am a huge Paul Thorn fan. I think his music and art are both very original and clever. I have seen Paul in concert (most recently when he opened for Mark Knopfler), and had the privilege of meeting him. (Yes, he's a really nice guy.) He is the real deal, a hardworking, smart, funny, talented musician. Having said all that, I was less enthusiastic about this CD than "Mission Temple Fireworks Stand" and other earlier works.

In general, my favorite feature of Paul's music is the subtle wit and touch of sarcasm in his lyrics ("Burn Down The Trailer Park" stands as my all time favorite) and it is therefore no wonder that I like this album less than older works. On this CD Paul has seemingly made the conscious decision to go mainstream and the result is a pleasant CD of pop songs that are generally inoffensive, but lack the humor and bite of his earlier works. The one real standout on the CD is the title track, "Are You With Me?" which is an up-tempo conventional love song that is exceptionally well executed. My other favorite from the CD is "Love Will Find You," a powerful ballad about lost love.

In spite of my critique, I still endorse this CD: I give the album four stars; the performances here are excellent, but the level of cantankerous playfulness present on earlier albums is mostly absent.

Being an avid PT fan my first knee jerk reaction to "Are You With Me" wasn't real enthusiastic. I have no objection to artists expanding their horizons, but so much of what Paul Thorn is great at was left out. His intricate & humorous lyrics in previous efforts, are replaced by common, run-of-the-mill pop rhymes. You still hear good, raspy vocals & pleasant harmonies, but it's not enough to overcome my disappointment. I may be being too tough after listening to "Are You With Me" only once, but I'm hoping it will grow on me since Thorn is such a talent. If you are a Paul Thorn fan, do yourself a favor and listen to this before you buy it.