Young, Guitar Days
"These stories aren't that far from where I'm now standing,"  the 46-year-old singer-songwriter reflects in the liner notes to this  collection of early outtakes. He's right. Forbert's first four albums  established him as much more than aDylanorSpringsteenimitator: His blend of southern romanticism and bittersweet innocence  made for an idiosyncratic folk-rock style that he's never really  abandoned. These once-shelved tracks, recorded between 1979 and 1981,  still sound fresh, and though most of the arrangements feature ace  players (notably members of theSkeletons), Forbert's  gently wry voice and harmonica are always front and center. Most importantly,  the songs have that uniquely Forbertesque spirit. "Get That Vagabond Feeling"  is as sweet and evocative as "Romeo's Tune," Forbert's biggest hit, while  "House of Cards," with the lines "We're all left with a whole lot of  truth," bids an aching, wise farewell toElvis. Like a  scrapbook of Polaroids and poems,Young, Guitar Daysoffers a  touching portrait of the artist as a young dreamer, a worthy collection  of images, stories, and melodies in its own right.--Roy Kasten