Van Morrison Latest Record Project

I don't get tired of Van or John. They have created a ton of good sound art.  

it's a good album, but he had so many amazing songs, I wouldn't put any from this CD in the top 50.

"Why Are You On Facebook?" is a spectacular number.

"Deadbeat Saturday Night" I think I remember being very good.

I can't go in depth because I've not that much more that stood out in memory.

Nonetheless it's hard to read threads that only wax nostalgic.

The "Facebook" number was so good (and utterly inimitable but hey Van usually comes thru with at least one song that's worth admission price.) No More Lockdown LP was similar insofar as the eponymous track HAD to be recorded by somebody ... during Covid we watched (via ScrewTube) some stuff live from soundstage [Shepperton Studio perhaps?] was phenomenal.  The take of "St Dominic's Preview" e.g., was/is to die for.  ... Same as the Ballerina rendition live with Joey DeFrancesco.   If you haven't seen (heard) the 70th Birthday [Live On Cypress Ave.] Celebration Van Live -- the closer - On Hyndford St. - is TRANSCENDANT.  I believe it's pro shot video and can't live w/o it lol!

It's a shame John Prine wasn't as lucky as Van.

Politically incorrect- Count me In!

Happy Listening!

I think it's just to long without anything really new should be a single album. I took the most enjoyable songs to me and put them on one disc much better listen.
Like most artist his early creations were by far his best. I thought Irish Heartbeat with the Chieftains was the last great one.

Van Morrison is like Bob Dylan... sometimes great, sometimes not as great but always worth a listen. I've been a fan since "Moondance" and "Astral Weeks".

He has a lot of albums.   Reviewers are probably just tired of reviewing them already.   I have only heard probably less than 50% of his output so always still finding new juicy Van tidbits out there 
I’ll have to give it a stream sometime soon.  

Too Long in Exile

I’ve only listened to a couple of tracks on youtube (I’m away from home) so take this for what it’s worth.

Van has been criticized by some for making the same album over and over for the last few years. They're all pleasant enough, but they all seem to be 10% inspiration and 90% going through the motions. This last one may be his least inspired yet.

I think he made it to keep himself busy during the lockdown and that might explain why it’s a double cd, or he may have just done that to piss off the record company.

Listen to Van’s sax solo in about the last minute of Only A Song. I can’t believe that anyone outside the realm of free jazz would put that on an album. It sounds like a new sax student’s fist attempt at playing the thing.

I don’t mean to offend people who like the album, the tunes are pleasant enough, Van is still in good voice, and I’m sure there’s plenty of good musicianship on it. The fact that it’s politically incorrect is a plus for me, it just sounds like a really uninspired Van to me.

Honestly, I don’t care for Vans latest. Could not get through the first listen. Disappointing. 

Yes he has! LOL! 

I have generally enjoyed all Vans albums as they came out, been a fan since he was with Them, and have enjoyed each one on it's own merit as he changed and grew as an artist. He has been quite prolific with new releases and was going to skip this one because the reviewers mentioned that he had an axe to grind, then I remembered that he has always had an axe to grind. I will get an ear on this one before I purchase but will check it out. Enjoy the music

I’ll have to give it a 2nd listen.  The first time around really didn’t do it for me.  It wasn’t a bad album…It just wasn’t Van Morrison a la the “Moondance” era.  IMO, that’s the problem a lot of artists run into who’ve created their masterpiece early on…any subsequent work tends to be measured against the masterpiece rather than material by other artists inhabiting the same time-slot-in-history as the later work (By that measure, I’d give “…Project” a solid B.)

I love it.  Forget about the reviewers.  If the song lyrics and Van’s perspective of the lockdown fit their views, then they would like it more.  You hit the nail on the head with your positive comments.  He is in his mid seventies and still putting out good music with is voice sounding good and in tact.  That is rare for sure at his age.