MUSIC REVIEWS
JOHN FOGERTY'S DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN

In September, John Fogerty, former front man and lead guitar player of Credence Clearwater Revival, released his first solo CD in more than five years entitled Déjà Vu All Over Again.

The tone of the title cut, "Déjà Vu All Over Again," is a protest against the War in Iraq. In this song Fogerty compares the war's cliches, slogans, body counts, and parent's grief over dead children in much the same way that "Who'll Stop the Rain" and "Fortunate Son," earlier songs with CCR, criticized the Vietnam War. True CCR aficionados will hear familiar bass lines and guitar riffs on "Déjà Vu" from "Who'll Stop the Rain" as if Fogerty is making the connection between the two wars obivious for all to see.

But the CD is much more that a criticism of the War in Iraq. The CD contains an emotional and lovely ballad to Fogerty's young daughter "I'll Walk With You," to a stark criticism of modern life with all its technology from computer software, hardware, and gadgets to SUVs and cell phones entitled "Nobody's Here Anymore." The song "Honey Do" is a funny, rockabilly ditty that adds upbeat humor to the collection.

While there is really nothing stellar, outstanding, or musically innovative on the CD, Déjà Vu All Over Again is a unique snapshot of America in 2004 and Fogerty's observations are quite relevant if someone is interested in taking a critical look at society today. Over all it is a fun album, cleverly crafted with intrinsically created lyrics and melodies that run a wide gamut of musical styles.

Musicians on Déjà Vu All Over Again include: Kenny Aronoff on drums, Paul Bushnell on bass, Bob Britt on slide guitar, and Benmont Tench on the organ. Special quests on the CD include Jerry Douglas, Victor Krauss, and Mark Knopfler. The CD was produced by John Fogerty.

For Fogerty fans it is a mist have CD. Other listeners may want to drive it around the block a few times before purchasing it.

Another 2004 release of interest is Melissa Manchester's When I Look Down That Road. This CD is a well balanced, heart wrenching, and moving collection of songs that may be the best Melissa Manchester album ever.

The music in this 12 cut CD is a very simple mix of jazz and blues that easily moves the listener from song to song as the artist's voice seems to croon with every emotion as if it were heartfelt and unrehearsed. Songs like "I'll Know You By Heart," "Angels Dancing," and "When Paris Was A Woman" just seem to take the listener to another time and another place. The title cut "When I Look Down That Road" is a masterpiece that could have been done (and someday could be done) by a more popular artist such as Norah Jones or Mary Chapin Carpenter. Other songs on the CD like "After All This Time," "Lucky Break," and "Still Myself" make the listeners understand what is meant by the saying, "Youth is wasted on the young."

All the songs on When I Look Down That Road were written by Melissa Manchester herself and cannot be praised enough. The musical goddess that brought us "Come In From The Rain" and "Bright Eyes" is back. If you buy one CD this year, buy this CD.

If you are looking for a good Melissa Manchester anthology, you may want to try The Essence of Melissa Manchester. The CD contains 19 great cuts and is reasonably priced at most on line stores.

Now for those of you looking for something completely different there is a new release from Mercan Dede and his group Secret Tribe entitled Sufi Traveler. This two CD set is comprised of music from the Middle East composed on modern instruments. Dede blends the traditional ney (flute) with modern sounds of the jazz bass, violin, and ambient electronics to reproduce the rhythms, melodies, and mystique of his native Turkey and other Middle Eastern lands. One of the Sufi Traveler CDs is recorded live, while the other is a studio effort. Dede has several other CDs out there including the 1999 Journeys of a Dervish and his 1998 compilation Sufi Dreams. If you are into the music of the Middle East, you may want to give Mercan Dede's CDs a listen.