James Taylor Before This World (CD & DVD)

(Concord Records) 10 tracks, digisleeve

In the Olympus of North American singer/songwriters James Taylor has long been enthroned alongside other greats like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Carole King. It's all the more surprising when you realize that he hasn't released a studio album with his own new songs since 2002. It's not like James Taylor has been idle all these years. Among other things, he celebrated a highly acclaimed reunion with Carole King and the musicians with whom he laid the foundation for his amazing career in 1970, recorded two albums with wonderful cover versions and toured the world regularly - sometimes as a one-man band, sometimes with accompaniment. 

The 67-year-old let his fans wait only for a studio album with fresh compositions of his own. Thirteen long years! For his patience he is finally rewarded with Before This World. The album contains nine new songs by Taylor, which underline why he is called the archetype of the sensitive singer/songwriter.