Review: Joe Henry - Reverie

Words // Sarah V.

Rarely has an album been as perfectly named as Joe Henry's latest release, "Reverie." It has that dark, late-night feel that lets you lean back in a comfortable chair and lose yourself in thoughts and memories. Henry's decision to record live in his home studio with the windows wide open gives it a very homey ambience - you can distantly hear cars driving past, barking dogs, people talking, doors closing, birds chirping. Since it was recorded live, it has a very natural sound to it and it feels like you're listening to a few talented friends jamming in someone's backyard. 

It should be no surprise that the album has a fantastic sound to it, since Joe Henry is a multiple-Grammy-award-winning producer, having produced albums for a long list of musicians including Allen Toussaint, Elvis Costello, Loudon Wainwright III, and Anti- label-mates Bettye Lavette and Ramblin' Jack Elliott.

Henry has long been influenced in his own songwriting by many uniquely American music genres, like jazz, blues, country and gospel. This album is no exception. The true focus, however, is on the quality of the songs. The all-acoustic band and the live recording with minimal overdubs results in a simplicity and straightforwardness that emphasizes the songs rather than the performances or the production.

Highlights  of "Reverie" include bluesy foot-tapper "Sticks and Stones," dreamy and wistful "Room at Arles," and the peacefully sublime "The World and All I Know," which serves as an unusually satisfying album closer.

Joe Henry - Sticks & Stones by antirecords