Search - John Cale :: Close Watch

Fair enough as introduction

Pieter | Johannesburg | 12/11/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These 16 tracks include some of the highlights of John Cale's solo career. There is however, much much more to the man and his work. For those who want a more comprehensive collection, I suggest The Island Years Anthology (1996) or Seducing Down The Door (1994), both of which showcase his brilliance as a composer and musician. Neither of those includes track number six: Set Me Free, which together with Circus are the best songs on the 1996 album Walking On Locusts.Close Watch includes the beautiful "literary" songs Child's Christmas In Wales and Paris 1919 from the album of the same name, Mr. Wilson and, the aggressive high-powered rock of Guts, Heartbreak Hotel, Gun and Fear Is A Man's Best Friend (all from his Island albums Fear and Slow Dazzle), plus the aforementioned Set Me Free, a wistful and moving ballad with a beautiful melody.The other songs aren't as immediate or accessible, but repeated listens will reveal their worth. My personal favorites include Dying On The Vine, Cable Hogue and (I Keep A) Close Watch. Throughout his career Cale has been blending the power of rock with the elegance of classical music, with spectacular successes and interesting failures. Close Watch is an ideal introduction to John Cale; dedicated fans ought to get the aforementioned albums."