STEVE FORBERT
Evergreen Boy (Koch)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

---

Steve Forbert broke out in the late seventies with a strong debut, an even better follow-up, a hit single ("Romeo's Tune") and the burden of a wave of "new Dylan" hype. Well, an acoustic guitar, harmonica and quirky voice don't a new Dylan make, but Forbert could write a heck of a song.

Still can, in fact. Evergreen Boy can't be accurately described as a come back effort, because although his spotlight has been somewhat dimmed, he's never really gone away. He's continued to perform for a loyal audience and has made periodic forays into the studio to assemble a series of albums that feature his idiosyncratic style and journeyman songwriting skills. What Evergreen might do, and should, in my view, do, is brighten that spotlight a bit. These tunes are simply too good to be restricted to a cult audience. With the popularity of Americana styles, there's more room in the market for folkish singer/songwriters like Forbert, and his talents still put him head and shoulders above most of the artists looking for a piece of Americana action.

There may not be a "Romeo's Tune" on this one (although there may be - a few more listens might tell the tale), there are a lot of fine tunes and Forbert's voice has done nothing but benefit from the passage of time. If you're a player, there are several here you'll want to learn. If you're just a listener, there are a bunch you'll want to hear again and again.

Track List:

Something's Got A Hold On Me * She's Living In A Dream World * Strange * Evergreen Boy * Rose Marie * Now You Come Back * Your Own Hero * Late Winter Song * Breaking Through * It Doesn't Matter Much * Listen To The Mockingbird * Trusting Old Soul

© 2000 - Shaun Dale