Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
Jimmy Buffet has become better known for his roles as a bestselling author and seafaring adventurer than as a songsmith, which is why this 15-song live collection could not have arrived at a better time. Recorded in Nantucket, it revives all the charming, affable elements that launched a legion of Parrotheads, a Hawaiian-shirt-wearing following that's come to rival Deadheads for fanaticism. The songs are lush, humorous, and frequently reference the props we've come to expect from Buffett--bikini-clad women, rum drinks, and low-slung hammocks. While not exactly the world's best vocalist, the one-time college cheerleader uses a deft, antic hand to create witty scenarios and sling light-handed barbs aimed at everything from mall culture to his own foibles. The results are curiously captivating. Besides, who can really resist another round of "Margaritaville"?--Jaan Uhelszki