The Tree of Forgiveness

Album review

Seeing as how Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark aren't with us any more, we'd best make the most of our remaining time with John Prine! A great songwriter who is little-known this side of the Atlantic, but adored by a cult following back home, Prine started as a protégé of Kris Kristofferson, and is anything but a sub-Dylan. Prine has even become known as one of the most underrated portraitists of his generation. And while his wry humour always protects him from any temptation towards soppiness, he also knows how to touch the heart. With Prine, above all, anti-establishment spirit is never far from the surface. It's rare to see caustic wit and pure emotion blended together with such talent… After a superb record full of mixed duets with Kacey Musgraves, Lee Ann Womack, Alison Krauss, Susan Tedeschi, Iris DeMent, Amanda Shires and Miranda Lambert, John Prine has brought out his first record in 13 years made up entirely of new songs.

Produced with a certain reserve and sparseness by the now much-sought-after Dave Cobb, The Tree Of Forgiveness brings in few fellow writers (Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, Roger Cook, Keith Sykes and Phil Spector) and a few fellow performers (Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires). At 71 years of age, the songwriter from Chicago has a voice to match his age. It has been ravaged by sickness and cigarettes, but its sound perfectly matches what he is singing. More a storyteller than an entertainer, Prine has hit the right balance between rather original mad old man and the sage who regards the world with a certain detachment and a good dose of humour. The work also speaks of death (over the last twenty years his cancer has come and gone) and his loves... Even if we have come a long way from his masterpieces of the 1970s (the self-titled John Prine but also Sweet Revenge and Bruised Orange), this 2018 work is still a lot of fun. © Marc Zisman/Qobuz