Chris deBurgh - The Road To Freedom (2004)
I have always considered Chris deBurgh one of the best Singer/Songwrites of the last 30 years. Having seen him live on numerous occasions, and experienced his music from a personal perspective, I have been amazed how his early works stand to the test of time. In recent years, he has tried to rekindle the sound and feel that made him one of the most imaginative story tellers of his day.
His latest effort, "The Road To Freedon" is a haunting, often beautiful, work, that creates a musical tapestry of love, loss and longing. From the lonely musings of a father who'se son is gone to war (in the title track), to the intimacy shared by a couple lingering at a party (in 5 Past Dreams), the album generates a dark atmosphere, sometimes penetrated by the hope inherent in love.
As with many of his other work's, deBurgh's story telling talent shines through the lyrical structure of the songs. But beyond that, this album is musically stonger than anything he has done recently. There is a raw power generated by the music on this album that calls to the heart, and lends atmospheric support to the lyric's. When you listen to 'Snow is Falling', you can close your eyes and visualize the forest, the lazy flakes drifting on an errant breeze, the snow covered mounds that hide the dead, and feel the lost soul's, crying to be found.
Few singer / songwriters in the music business today have the ability to take the heart and soul of the listener on a journey through their music. Chris deBurgh is one of the few, and 'The Road To Freedon" is a perfect example of why he is one of the most respected artists of his generation. If you asked me to sum it up in one word... it would simply be 'Beautiful'!
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