Nils Lofgren is a musical virtuoso who may be best known for his work with names like Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Neil Young, and others. However on his own Lofgren is quite the accomplished solo musician. He’s just getting set to release his newest record on November 1, 2011; “Old School.”
Lofgren hasn’t released a new record in more than five years but the talented musician hasn’t lost a step. Lofren may be an elder statesman but from the top of his new record one could easily be confused as to his disposition. He begins by mouthing off about the ineffectual nature of Congress, the travails of the Internet, and even bigger Biblical themes; singing beneath his rollicking guitar line that there “ain’t no old school anymore.”
The second track on this record almost sounds like an old David Bowie tune or maybe one of the short list of hits from the band “Ah-ha.” With splashy bass lines, tight drums, and short guitar lines, “60 is the New 18″ tells the drama many in the chemically/surgically aided Boomer generation are coming upon; the fact that no matter how young we feel, the date on the calendar doesn’t lie.
There are many softer moments on “Old School” as well. “I Miss You Ray,” is a shuffling tune; “When You Were Mine” tells an ambling story of heartbreak. On both songs, Lofgren takes the listener through the travails of an obviously special relationship and opines for better days, while still honoring the spirit of the relationship.
Old School is a frenetic sounding record which goes from bluesy to acoustic to even rougher sounds. The first two tunes had the same anxious energy of a song from Rush; other songs evoked the spirit of Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and even newer artists like John Mayer.
Still at the end of the day, at the end of the record, Nils Lofgren is just as inquisitive as any artist. “Old School’s” last track “Why Me,” leaves the listener hanging onto more of a question mark than anything else. Life is a vexing, harrowing thing. Artists like the very talented singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Nils Lofgren just take their own Jackson Pollack turns swatting their own color to the black and white of life.