Jimmy Buffett Album: “Barometer Soup”

I'll add my voice to the chorus of praise here for this album -- "Barometer Soup" is the best of modern Buffett, hands down.

But the reason why, in my opinion, hasn't been stated yet: This time around, Jimmy is writing and recording songs inspired by the works of artists inspired by Key West. We get a bit of Mark Twain, a bit of Ernest Hemingway, a bit of Carl Hiassen, and a sprinkling of others. "Barometer Soup" marks a return to Jimmy's storytelling songs, which have dwindled in recent years. His cover of "Mexico" may be what got (some) radio airplay, but it's songs like "Remittance Man" and "Ballad of Skip Wiley" that will stick with you.

("Ballad of Skip Wiley," incidentally, got me to check out the books of Carl Hiassen, whom I learned about from the liner notes. No Buffett fan should pass up checking out Hiassen's work, which is sharp, funny and very in tune with Parrothead thinking. Great stuff.)

The songs, while almost all stories, range in tone from wistful and romantic to high-spirited fun. You'll find yourself singing along with the album and, as I did, cracking a book or two to see what inspired the men who inspired the man who inspired the Parrotheads.

"Barometer Soup" is one of Jimmy's best.

I have long ago given up wondering why I like Jimmy Buffett's music so much..I just do.It was Changes in Attitudes Changes In Latitudes that hooked me,and I have sailed with Jimmy ever since.This would possibly be one of the handful of CDs he has released that I would recommend that you start your journey with.It is a combination of the pre and post Parrot Head mania with a relaxed and mature combination of that trademark storytelling and that confidence that comes with experience and that Peter Pan rebellious nature that critics and the music industry can't and will never fathom and the fans and the devotees love.It has a warm and friendly feel,inviting and always humourous.From the opening strains of *Barometer Soup* the music is immediately accessible and familiar.I personally consider *Remittance Man* as one of Jimmy's greatest,but that may be a futile suggestion as everybody has their own.It has that haunting flavour of loss and longing and the harmonica of Greg *Fingers* Taylor is exquiste.It made me go out and read *Following The Equator* by Mark Twain..it is the magic of Jimmy that any fan will attest to,he has you living life to the fullest with every CD and thinking the *Weather is Here I wish you Were Beautiful*.

It is hard to review to the uninitiated because the state of mind that Jimmy creates makes a normal review impossible.You have to feel for this music.If you are 60 you will love it for certain reasons,if you are 15 you will love it for completely different reasons..if you love lyric melody imagery and fun this is the artist for you.

I recommend that you have a Corona by your side,and adventure in your heart when listening to this one.I recommend Blue heaven Rendezvous,for all of us *experienced with lifers* and then you enjoy the sheer joy of Lage Nom Ai and Dont Chu-Know and Mexico,and unashamedly tap your feet.

The appeal of Jimmy has flowed from me to my children,who count *The Night I Painted The Sky* as one of their favourites,and so do I for that matter.What is a great song?Who is a great artist?..the questions of life..I will have no hesitation in recommending this CD to the uninitiated as a must have to start your Jimmy Buffett journey,...read the cover notes,expand your appreciation of life and then head back down A1A and collect some of the gems that were produced by Jimmy over the last 30 years or so......enjoy and Find your own One Particular Harbour. As if it really matters...5 stars and lick sip suck...cheers.

This is definitely the best single album by Jimmy! Barometer Soup, the title cut has one of the finest steel drum band instrumentals interlacing Jimmy's fine vocal that I have ever heard! I wish Jimmy would do more tunes like this one and set the Coral Reefers (his band for those who are not parrot heads) free to play those steel drums and carribean sounds. This song is his greatest! Follow that up with the lovely Barefoot Children In the Sand, and the album is already fantastic. The rest is just pure Gravy. Crank Up the start of Barometer Soup and people will ask you who that is! It is that good! The only albums that come close to this one is Changes in Attitudes, Changes In Lattitudes, One Particular Harbor and Fruitcakes! Jimmy is great, but I love his carribean ballads pumped full of steel drum and carefree music that rockets you to Paradise. I swear you will almost feel the sun on your back, the smell of soft salt air breezes, and sand in your toes. You'll be mentally sippng your Pina Coloda under a palm tree near crystal clear blue waters before you know it!

Never having heard a Jimmy Buffett CD before, I was trueley smitten! His music is so easy to listen to, it gets inside your soul! I could never tire of listening to his CD's. Went out immediately and bought Feeding Frenzy, and Beach House on the Moon. Thanks Jimmy for many hours of pleasant listening!

Barometer Soup is the best album Jimmy Buffett has released since 1980's Coconut Telegraph and worthy of being ranked up near top of all his albums. Inspired by the writers, artists, musicians and the melting pot culture of his adopted home, Key West, Mr. Buffett has fashioned an exquisite album. Much like the cover art, you can picture Mr. Buffett lounging on a hammock with his acoustic guitar, drinking cool drinks and spinning yarns. This marks a return to the storytelling music he made in his salad days of the 1970's. The title track , "Jimmy Dreams", "Bank Of Bad Habits", "Ballad Of Skip Wiley" & "Barefoot Children" are all sharply writing and sung in the conversational style that Mr. Buffett is most comfortable in. Barometer Soup justifiably debuted in at number six on the Top 200 and is an excellent effort.