Fair & Square

John Prine takes his own sweet time dancing with his muse -- and truly writes what's in his soul. So if it takes him a little longer to write the songs that capture moments and reveal the gently folded human truths that bind us all together. It's always worth the wait. Now, nearly nine years since the release of his Grammy-nominated Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings, the iconic American writer has put the finishing touches on his latest offering, appropriately titled, Fair & Square. "It was just time," says Prine in his always understated way. "I had a bunch of songs. I'd started recording them, and it turns out, I liked them pretty well. So, now, I get to get them all just the way I like them - and then I get to let them go out to meet the world." With the occasional wheezing accordion, curlicue electric guitar parts, quick-wristed mandolins, billowing B-3 pads and puddles of pedal steel guitar, the rough-voiced singer/songwriter's first self-produced record is a homey affair that draws generously from the palette of traditional American music -- be it folk, bluegrass, shuffles, vintage rock & roll, torch, country -- for an amalgamation that would be at home on any Wurlitzer in a whiskey-soaked tavern with beer signs flickering from age and the walls stained deeper than sepia from the years of constant smoke.

With bluegrass queen Alison Krauss on the ode to his Irish refuge "My Darlin' Hometown", the street corner desolation of "The Moon Is Down" and alt-country princess Mindy Smith bringing allure and tartness to "Morning Train," "Long Monday" and the melted neon ponder of "Taking A Walk," Fair & Square is the work of a man at ease with his life, secure with his place in the world and willing to share the things that he sees. "It's been a while, so I'm pretty excited," Prine admits with that Oh Boy grin. "And that's a really good place to be." more

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Smarter Choice Fair & Square [Digipak] CDs. Fair & Square [Digipak]	4,156 reviews *smarter certified	$11.89 Free Shipping Coupon 2 coupons available Code:No Code Required Detail: Free Standard shipping on any order at DeepDiscount. Expires:Aug-31-2010 Restriction:Unknow Code: Detail: Free USPS shipping at DeepDiscount.com Expires:Nov-20-2010 Restriction:Unknow	See it
Fair & Square John Prine takes his own sweet time dancing with his muse -- and truly writes what's in his soul. So if it takes him...	Buy.com 23,982 reviews *smarter certified	$12.99 Coupon 1 coupon available Code: Detail: Take $5 OFF the purchase of $100 or more at Buy.com Expires:Nov-30-2009 Restriction:New Customers Only. Coupons are not valid on Marketplace items	See it
Fair & Square [Digipak] Track Listing: 1. Glory of True Love, 2. Crazy as a Loon, 3. Long Monday, 4. Talking a Walk, 5. Some Humans Ain't...	Best Buy 14,835 reviews *smarter certified	$13.99	See it
Fair & Square [Digipak]	Tower.com 94 reviews	$12.56 Coupon 1 coupon available Code: Detail: FREE standard delivery when you purchase over $25.00 at Tower.com. Expires:Dec-31-2010 Restriction:Unknow	See it

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ProductReviews91/100 (100 Reviews)

Recent Reviews

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Dec-11-2008; Yes, She's My Everything; Parts of This review have been used to review John Prine's "Great Days" album which is pound for pound the best compilation around but if you have extra dough get this one as well.Over the last several months I have done more...; read full review | report as inappropriate

5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Nov-24-2008; Better and better; Wonderful CD!!! Prine just gets better and better. From first to last this cd is worth buying for a friend,yep it's that good Tim Hogins Kearney,ne; read full review | report as inappropriate

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Sep-01-2008; Songs from the Pickup Truck; John Prine's homespun wisdom continues to pour from his newer work. "Fair & Square" has some gems. "Crazy As a Loon" focuses on dreams always a bit out of reach, "That town will make you crazy; Just give it a little time; You'll be...; read full review | report as inappropriate

5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: May-15-2008; Prine does it again; John Prine continues his reign as one of the greatest songwriters of our time. He brings a new level to his music after his battle throat cancer which gives his voice a bit deeper more serious tone. If you like John Prine or Folk music...; read full review | report as inappropriate

Selected Reviews

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Dec-11-2008; Yes, She's My Everything; Parts of This review have been used to review John Prine's "Great Days" album which is pound for pound the best compilation around but if you have extra dough get this one as well.Over the last several months I have done more...; read full review | report as inappropriate

3/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Feb-15-2006; A little mediocre from a guy so gifted; I'm glad that John is back and this effort is refreshing in these days of the prepackaged and synthetically enhnaced. To be blunt, I wish there were more good songs on this album. However, there are enough very good tunes to keep me...; read full review | report as inappropriate

2/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Apr-25-2006; Same Shtuff, Different Day and CD; I have a lot of John Prine music and I've loved seeing him in concert many times. That said, I really don't have a lot of interest in a CD where the artist has run out of ideas and essentially re-works his older material. This might...; read full review | report as inappropriate