Saturate Before Using
Jackson Browne released this album to critical raves, but it was only a portent of things to come. "For Everyman", "Late For The Sky" and "The Pretender" (all of which, especially "Sky" are classics) were to follow over the next few years. This self - titled release (still referred to by some as "Saturate Before Using") showcased the young singer - songwriter's keen ability to draw the listener into his world.
Although Browne was only in his early 20's when this album was released, the substance and style of his writing were those of a person twice his age, an interesting mix of youthful curiosity and worldly wisdom.
"Song For Adam" is a moving tribute to a fallen friend and the singer's attempt to deal with the loss: "I sit before my only candle, but it's so little light to find my way." "Doctor My Eyes" is perhaps Browne's best - known song. It shouldn't be dismissed merely because it happened to become popular and has a catchy tune. The arrangement is excellent and the lyrics poignant, a prime example of a song that has held up well over time.
For what it's worth, "Looking Into You" is my personal favorite of this ten - song collection. It is a tale of a young, yet weary vagabond on a journey of self - realization, a theme Browne would revisit many times on subsequent albums, most notably on the songs "Farther On" and "The Pretender." "The roads were as many as the places I had dreamed of, and my friends and I were one." The imagery expressed in Browne's poetic lyrics are familiar to all who have reached a point where everything, yet nothing, with the exception of love, makes sense. "I looked into the sky for my anthem, and the words and the music came through. But words and music could never touch the beauty that I've seen looking into you."
Jackson Browne set an incredibly high standard for himself, and for his contemporaries, with the release of this album. Amazingly, he was able to match and even exceed this standard in the years to follow. Virtually no one else even came close.
Although Browne was only in his early 20's when this album was released, the substance and style of his writing were those of a person twice his age, an interesting mix of youthful curiosity and worldly wisdom.
"Song For Adam" is a moving tribute to a fallen friend and the singer's attempt to deal with the loss: "I sit before my only candle, but it's so little light to find my way." "Doctor My Eyes" is perhaps Browne's best - known song. It shouldn't be dismissed merely because it happened to become popular and has a catchy tune. The arrangement is excellent and the lyrics poignant, a prime example of a song that has held up well over time.
For what it's worth, "Looking Into You" is my personal favorite of this ten - song collection. It is a tale of a young, yet weary vagabond on a journey of self - realization, a theme Browne would revisit many times on subsequent albums, most notably on the songs "Farther On" and "The Pretender." "The roads were as many as the places I had dreamed of, and my friends and I were one." The imagery expressed in Browne's poetic lyrics are familiar to all who have reached a point where everything, yet nothing, with the exception of love, makes sense. "I looked into the sky for my anthem, and the words and the music came through. But words and music could never touch the beauty that I've seen looking into you."
Jackson Browne set an incredibly high standard for himself, and for his contemporaries, with the release of this album. Amazingly, he was able to match and even exceed this standard in the years to follow. Virtually no one else even came close.
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