In These Times
Peter, Paul and Mary released their first LP in 1962, and--apart from an early-'70s hiatus--they have been going strong ever since.In These Times, their 2004 release, doesn't really tinker with the formula that propelled them into the spotlight all those years ago, but if the canny blend of traditional tunes, social commentary, and contemporary compositions still works, why change it? Their voices no longer have the vigor and clarity they once did, but on songs like "Jesus on the Wire," a stark mediation on the death of Matthew Shepard composed by Thea Hopkins, or the folk classic "Wayfaring Stranger," the whispery tone and wobbling harmonies add poignancy to the hard-earned authority of the performances. In its basic format,In These Timesrecalls Peter, Paul and Mary's earlier recordings, but the songs themselves, most of which were composed in the last few years, show that the trio has successfully resisted the urge to wallow in nostalgia.--Michael John Simmons