In Fantasy stage David sang ”I know I should be acting my age”. I’m glad he doesn’t. He’s not resting on his laurels and still creates great music.

This is his most political album ever. There have been some political songs before such as “Brainwashed”, Small Family”, “Politics” and “It’s all about the money. He doesn’t hesitate to speak his mind and his truth, whether he’s weighing in on gun violence and the American political circus. Some may to criticize him for being political. What happened with free speech. As Voltaire once said "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". 

The album opens with the autobiographical “Burwash” talks of his troubled youth, when he seemed destined to a lifetime behind bars. How music changed his life and about his beginnings in a rock n’ roll band. A gritty, strong piece of prison blues. It follows with “The System” where he calls for action in the youth justice system. His anger seems on the verge of boiling over in “Never Again,” which rails against gun violence. But shouldn’t we all. In the gospel “Dear Mr. Obama” he longs for a restoration of normalcy in the White House. Another song is “The Circus” that criticize the incompetency of Trump’s administration. I have always liked these kind of circus-like songs. There are many other great songs such as “King Midas,” based on an ancient Greek fable but still relevant today.  “A Bright Shining City,” turning his attention to immigration. The Precipices is about the climate change and what kind of world we are leaving to our children.

His gracious piano-driven hymn “God’s Country,” praising his homeland end the album.

There is a song “Player” that was cut from the album, good song but it just didn't fit the theme of the album, it was a social protest. It is included as a bonus track on some downloads and on Spotify.

Produced: 2020

Produced by David Clayton-Thomas

 

Back to Homepage

Back to Discography