Down to joy

Van Morrison - Remembering Now (2025) *****

Nominated by: GK

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Cutting Corners

As mentioned on our Messenger chat - this would have been my next choice to complete my trilogy of iconic musicians releasing amazing records very late in their career. Previously, I had chosen albums of the week by The Stones and Macca, Van's would have been the third. 

It's very inspirational that these guys are all still releasing vital music into their eighties. They invented modern music and they continue to model how a stellar career doesn't end until the end.

I have a lot of Van's previous albums (you can read all about them here, here, and here). He's an artist that refuses to be ignored as the years go by and his releases stack up. I bought a vinyl copy of Remembering Now based on the reviews I'd read.

Those reviews for Van's 47th studio album, 2025's Remembering Now, were uniform in their opinion that this was one of his best ever albums. It's staggering that his first album was released almost 60 years ago. Obviously, given the amount of music he releases (22 albums in the last 26 years), the quality will vary. Plus, being in his eighties - he's no spring chicken. When the inspiration hits, though, as it does on this album, he's in a class of his own.

There's something extremely gratifying when each song starts and then Van Morrison begins his vocals - that familiar reassurance that comes with his familiar delivery. May he make many more albums like Remembering Now.

It felt appropriate that GK should choose this album as he underwent a life changing event with his heart attack. Van is a healing force throughout this and many other albums. I flashed back to the two of us watching The Last Waltz at the movies in Queen Street back in the day. I can still remember now (see what I did there) GK saying "Van the man" when he started doing Caravan (Van, not Gregarious).

He (GK, not Van) mentioned the rule of three in his last review and when applied to Remembering Now it passes with flying colours. My vinyl copy is spread over four sides and every side starts with three brilliant songs (two sides only have three songs). In particular the lead off song for each side is a peak - Down to Joy, Cutting Corners, Stomping Ground and Colour Blind. Making it tricky to pick one song to represent.

Something I really admire about Van's genius is his overall musicianship. He can write wonderful songs, sings in his unique style, plays economical acoustic and electric guitar and plays a very identifiable sax. 

Wow! What a remarkable talent.

VAN THE MAN!!

Blood red sky

Warner Emery - The Cockroach (2026) **

Nominated by: KS

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Coloured Glass

I know I will be alone in my opinions of this performer, these songs, and this album. This is okay - we all have our own musical taste. Spoiler alert - GK will love this album (as does KS obviously), but this is not to mine.

Solo acoustic guitar with harmonica can be a beautiful combination in the right hands. Neil Young, Al Stewart, Bob Dylan are three artists who can transform a room with their voice, their playing, their brilliant songs, vibe and sheer force of their presence. Neil Young can be hilarious as a solo acoustic performer.

That's a heady list, but the comparison with Emery is forced upon me by his choices. The thing is, though, that he doesn't have the voice, the variety of songs, skills, or sheer force of his presence to carry him through a whole album. 

One word - whistling. Unless you are going for a Roger Whittaker vibe, or unless you're John Lennon - I'd advise against whistling. Maybe Emery could have got away with it once, but multiple times? No sirree.

Are there any positives? Well, yes there are. He gets points for downhome chutzpah, bravado, daring do, and the cover to the album is superb. A couple of the songs have potential to advance from the Maori strum approach and become something more.

Ultimately though, and while I can't help but admire my fellow members enjoyment of this kind of music, it's just not my cup of tea, chaps.

That's just the way it is

Bruce Hornsby and the Range  - The Way It Is (1986) ***

Nominated by: GK

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: The Way It Is

I am well aware of GK's enjoyment of this album - he has waxed lyrical about its merits on a few occasions over the decades.

I admire Bruce Hornsby's abilities as well, but not enough to ever buy any of his albums. That said, there is a lot to like about Bruce - his distinctive vocal style, his way with the ivories, and his association with The Grateful Dead.

This was his debut, way, way back in 1986, led by and dominated by the title track which is a classic that I never get tired of hearing. It's a very impressive debut with the band already as tight as a drum.

The first side is particularly strong with the great opener - On the Western Skyline to the title track. Mandolin Rain is another really strong song on that side. I kinda lose a bit of focus as side two plays out (the last three songs particularly).

Although there is a sameness about some of the songs: The Long Race, Down the Road Tonight, there aren't any skippers, and given it's a mid-eighties album/production, it holds up pretty well in 2026.