Civilians

This album is amazing. I continue to be mystified as to why every Dylan fan is not also a Joe Henry fan, although Joe is probably more frequently compared to Tom Waits, if only because they both write short stories in their lyrics. Civilians has stellar lyrics, like all Joe Henry albums (I also recommend his trio of perfection: Tiny Voices, Fuse, and Scar).

There are some really well-written, 4 star reviews of this album out in the blogosphere now, so go do a google search on some of those, because they do this album more justice than I ever could.

But, how to describe this album? Someone said “folk-noir” and I think that about sums up Joe’s sound as best anyone could. Civilians is quieter than Tiny Voices — less of a jazz sound if you will, more stripped down. The production is gorgeous — there are some quiet spaces on these songs where everything just breathes, and I *love* the instrumentation on it — pump organ, amazing piano, and some gorgeous strings on the epic “Our Song,” which is the centerpiece of the album. This album will definitely grow on you.

Now Joe just needs to tour more!

As an added bonus, like all his other albums since Fuse, the art direction/layout (with photos by John Cohen) is more deserving of a gallery show than to be simply on a cd rack.

Some lines from “Wave,” my favorite track:

“And all the while I kept your name beside me
I wrote it, but refused it on my tongue,
Believing you a song still there inside me
I feared your loss if ever it were sung”

Joe Henry’s Civilians is a stirring, sincere and thoughtful work of simple brilliance. Henry has said he did not intend to make a political record yet did, but it’s politics is timeless, rooted in civilian struggle of the simple meandering hardships and graces of life, regardless of whatever “current administration” of whatever year. The record could have been recorded 50, 30, 20 years ago and the same political references would have been relevant.

Beyond the politics, the music and lyrics are rich and vivid, the songs are never let go, held tight yet given enough room to breathe. Civilians could be described as a mix between “Kindness of the World” and “Tiny Voices”. And although many will think it hyperbole, Civilians is not just the front running candidate from album of the year, Henry has delivered what could easily be a contender for album of the decade.

5.0 out of 5 stars
Joe Henry Is a Lion
I’ll throw two more cents in among all the beautiful words people have written on the subject of Civilians.

You know the way that the album that introduced you to an artist retains a special place? The first Dylan album I bought on its release was “Street Legal” and nearly 30 years on it remains one of my favourites. Similarly, my Joe Henry introduction was through a Minneapolis/St.Paul newspaper profile in 1992 that sent me off to my then local store in Madison, WI to get “Short Man’s Room”; that record (get it now if you don’t have it) is still a gem.

Joe Henry had released three albums before then and has released a half dozen or more since. He doesn’t seem to rush these things, and they sound relaxed and easy, and they are constantly worth revisiting. “Civilians” has just eased itself into a seat at the top table; a warm, inviting, funny collection of gloriously played songs (played by a band sounding like a band having, as Grandpa Bob would have it, a whomping good time).

Henry has a knack of writing a lyric and melody that snags in your head that keeps you company on a window-down late evening drive or dancing with your partner as the wedding party winds down and the autumn bonfires are glowing orange on Mayo beaches. That’s fine and dandy, but does this stuff swing and sway? Oh yeah. This is a cracker of an album, something that should be played loud, played quiet but played, again and again.

Album of the year? Quite possibly, and not just of this year.

5.0 out of 5 stars
Civilians
“Civilians” is an albumn that should go down in history as one of the greatest. It’s the equivalent of Don Delillo’s “Underworld,” and if that’s too obscure a literary reference,…

5.0 out of 5 stars
Of castaways and commoners
Joe Henry seems to be one of those rare artists who will put as much time as needed into an album (of course, he’s signed under the Anti- label!).

5.0 out of 5 stars
Somewhere between Tom Waits and Shakespeare
Other reviews have said it all, really. To me it’s the perfect blend between “Kindness of the World” and “Tiny Voices”.