Rating: NNN
Right from the laughter of Margo Timmins, which opens this Cowboy Junkies live-in-the-studio set, it’s evident that this isn’t your typical Junkies session. More of a between-album stopgap, Early 21st Century Blues is an informally recorded covers set – with two Michael Timmins tunes – whose low-key orchestrations and no-frills approach to production is a welcome return to their much-loved Trinity Sessions sound. The material is well chosen, focusing on lesser-known tunes by Bob Dylan (License To Kill), Bruce Springsteen (You’re Missing), George Harrison (Isn’t It A Pity), John Lennon (I Don’t Want To Be A Soldier) and Richie Havens (Handouts In The Rain) that they successfully make their own. Alternately spooky and snoozy, it’s about as good as any Junkies covers disc could be. www.cowboyjunkies.com.