After completing his epic California Trilogy, with its stories of life in his home state in the 40s and 50s, Ry Cooder returns with a solo project that is as refreshing, brave and original as his early recordings in the 70s. This time round there are no elaborate narratives, but there is a common theme: these are songs of a broken, divided society and the gap between rich and poor, but with the anger matched against humour. He's a master at setting bleak or thoughtful lyrics against jaunty melodies. No Banker Left Behind is the story of bankers on a spree after they "robbed the nation blind", set to a romping, country-edged tune, while Christmas Time This Year places a horrific story of war casualties against a cheerful Mexican dance melody, with accordion from Flaco Jiménez. Cooder plays guitar, mandola, banjo, bass and keyboards, and constantly changes direction from the evocative portrait of a rich man and his maid in Dirty Chateau to the gospel-edged stomp of Lord Tell Me Why ("a white man ain't worth nothing in this land no more"), which is quickly followed by the witty blues of John Lee Hooker for President. He ends with No Hard Feelings, a finely sung ballad that first rewrites Woody Guthrie ("this land should have been our land") and ends in despair and resignation. Magnificent. - guardian.co.uk
01. No Banker Left Behind
02. El Corrido De Jesse James
03. Quick Sand
04. Dirty Chateau
05. Humpty Dumpty World
06. Christmas Time This Year
07. Baby Joined the Army
08. Lord Tell Me Why
09. I Want My Crown
10. John Lee Hooker For President
11. Dreamer
12. Simple Tools
13. If There's a God
14. No Hard Feelings
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