Radney Foster – This World We Live In

In a parallel universe, Radney Foster is the guy I’d pick to renovate my old Greek Revival house in New Orleans’ Garden District (my fantasy pied-a-terre in Tuscany is just fine as is, thanks). In that dimension, as in this one, Foster is a guy who has abiding respect for clean lines and classic forms who can nevertheless put a modern and deeply satisfying sheen on venerable subjects.

That has been the essence of Foster’s art through half a dozen solo albums, and it continues on this one. He’s never set out to reinvent the wheel, but his literate, thoughtful takes on the well-worn subjects of love, loss and life its ownself set him apart from the average Music Row tunesmith.

Take the album’s kickoff, the bluesy, boozy “Drunk On Love”, which starts as a Randy Newman-esque set piece and winds up as a beer-joint sing-along. Or “Fools That Dream” (as in, “The only ones that make love last forever are…”), lyrical corollaries of which have been the subject of roughly a gazillion country songs. Never mind; Foster mints a new take on the topic and winds up with a classic-in-the-making ballad.

When Foster’s smooth craftsmanship betrays him, the results can be disappointing and glib, as in the overwrought yet bland ballad “I Won’t Lie To You” and ephemeral faux-heartbreak of “New Zip Code”. But he hits the mark on the genuinely touching john-and-working-girl tale “The Kindness Of Strangers” and the rueful yet bracing “Half Of My Mistakes”.

Along with fellow Texan Rodney Crowell, Foster makes catchy, appealing music without talking down to his audience, and his affection for country music’s classic incarnations ensures he won’t take the form for granted.