I'm feeling a bit green today

It’s some five years since James Taylor made the music industry sit up and take notice with the release of Hourglass, a major album reflected in the fact it won him a Grammy Award.

Nigel Bell

It’s somewhat of a disappointment, therefore, that October Road doesn’t offer more than a series of well crafted songs.

Given the wait one would have expected something out of the ordinary.

Sadly there’s nothing that comes close to the magnificent Gaia or Line ‘Em Up from the Hourglass collection.

That said, opener September Grass, is pleasant enough and the title track has a nice squiggle of fiddle.

Somehow though, it all sounds too familiar.

Yes, there is the James Taylor sound, but he’s shown he can go that extra yard and write songs that offer just that little bit more.

You don’t get that impression with October Road although On The 4th of July comes close…ish.

James Taylor has obviously recognised the style which carried Hourglass to such great rewards.

He’s tried to replicate the formula on October Road. But even on tracks like Belfast to Boston (with corny Irish pipe accompaniment) , it all sounds flat compared to the earlier release.

And the inclusion of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas suggests a man devoid of ideas and begs the question, why release this album in the middle of summer?

October Road is released on Columbia XPCD2716