Long Way Home From Anywhere
James Taylorhas cast a large shadow over today's country hit-makers, but for the most part, Nashville's earnest young troubadours more closely resemble such watered-down Taylor imitators asDan FogelbergorJ.D. Southerthan the man himself. Bruce Robison, the long tall Texan who marriedKelly Willis, does one of the best country impersonations of Taylor because he understands the value of understatement. On his sophomore album, Robison fills his lyrics with so many visual details and gives his folkie melodies such a relaxed flow that he can afford a low-key, seductive vocal delivery, trusting the songs to take care of themselves. His subject matter--a waitress in love with a Vietnam soldier, a guy who wants to be more than a best friend to a woman, a giddy newlywed groom, a lonely man on the road--is well worn, and, except for one Western swing tune, the music has few traces of honky-tonk, but it is elegant singer/songwriter pop in the best Taylor tradition.--Geoffrey Himes