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Music review: Jimmy Buffett — ‘Songs from St. Somewhere’

By Clint Rhodes crhodes@heraldstandard.Com 3 min read
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Rhodes

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Associated Press

This CD cover image released by Mailboat Records shows “Songs from St. Somewhere,” by Jimmy Buffett.

Parrotheads everywhere are celebrating the release of Jimmy BuffettĢƵ new album. Not that devoted Buffett fans need a reason to party, but “Songs from St. Somewhere” will surely add to the list of tropical, laidback and fun-loving arrangements that Buffett has so masterfully crafted over his 43-year career.

With summer coming to a close, it won’t be long until the chilling temperatures of a southwestern Pennsylvania winter pay an extended visit.

No other artist has been better over the years at creating a tropical paradise from sun-drench ditties, Caribbean party anthems and sentimental offerings on living and dying in three-quarter time.

I confess that I’m not the typical Buffett fan. My most cherished offerings from the son of a son of a sailor have always been 1981ĢƵ “Coconut Telegraph” and 1983ĢƵ “One Particular Harbour.” As

I’ve said before, I prefer my Buffett tunes with a little less Key West flavoring and a little more Alabama soul.

Buffett follows up 2009ĢƵ “Buffet Hotel” with another strong set of 15 new arrangements and a special bonus track.

The albumĢƵ first single, “Too Drunk to Karaoke,” is a rowdy duet with Toby Keith and a reunion with the country star from BuffettĢƵ “License to Chill,” that featured the pair on the similarly rambunctious “Piece of Work.”

Sentimental charmers like “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Boat,” “Tides” and “Soulfully” demonstrate that the singer-songwriter is still in fine form.

Perhaps the best tune of the bunch is the tenderly smooth and witty “Einstein was a Surfer,” as Buffett croons fluidly and comforting as on older classics like “He Went to Paris” and “A Pirate Looks at Forty.”

Perhaps Buffett is now looking at life at the age of 66 on the reflective

“Oldest Surfer on the Beach,”

featuring guitarist Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) as Buffett sings about letting go of past regrets and focusing on the precious moments of today.

One of the most interesting tracks on the album is the final track “I Want to Go Back to Cartagena.”

This bonus version features Buffett performing with the Colombian singer Fanny Lu.

Closing out the album with a Spanish flair, the sexy Latin singer playfully whispers, “Jimmy, I love you.” Who doesn’t love Buffett?

ItĢƵ still good to know that the man who put Margaritaville on the map still can make a big splash musically. Buffett shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon as he continues to work hard as a musician, a writer and performer.

BuffettĢƵ Broadway musical, “Big Fish,” is set to open Oct. 6 in New York City.

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