Disco de Rosanne Cash: “Rules of Travel”

I had kind of forgotten what a unique voice Rosanne Cash has been over the years until I saw her play a brief live set on our local cable channel in Philadelphia. As soon as I heard her sing the wonderful title song and the poignant "Last Stop Before Home," I knew I had to find this CD. I'm glad I've rediscovered her emotive, husky voice again, especially having heard the backstory about her near seven year fight to regain her voice after polyps were discovered on her vocal cords.

"The Rules Of Travel" is easily Rosanne's best album since the dark "Interiors," the chronicle of her breakup with then husband Rodney Crowell. Eleven ruminations on the pain of love and loss, her voice conveys the deep-hued melancholy that first struck me with its honesty back when "Blue Moon With Heartache" made me a fan. Producer and new husband John Leventhal frames each song with great care, making the guest appearances sound like more than random duets. Steve Earle adds his gritty tone to "I'll Change For You," underscoring that song's ultimate falsity. As much as the change is wished for, there's no way it's ever going to come. Teddy Thompson (son of folk legend Richard Thompson) has picked up the same kind of wanderer's eloquence his father has mastered over the years for "Three Steps Down." (Which, by the way, is one of three songs Rosanne did not have a hand in wirting, but was cowritten by Marc Cohn of "Walking in Memphis" fame. Jakob Dylan of the Wallflowers and Joe Henry also contribute good work.)

But the best of the lot has to be "September When It Comes," a duet with Rosanne's father Johnny. It certainly becomes hard to remain separated from the song when the elder Cash sings "They will fly me like an angel to a place I can rest." It's an amazing moment on a great album. Maybe Rosanne won't break back into the spotlight with "The Rules Of Travel," but if you're reading this, you can certainly do your part by getting yourself a copy.

"Rules of Travel" is a piece of pop perfection. Almost too perfect, almost too slick. One might almost think Rosanne and her producer, John Leventhal, have found some secret formula for combining chord changes, instrumentation, and words in just the right mix to elicit a strong emotional response. And they decided to use it in every song on this recording. Naw. She's proven herself to be a singer and songwriter of substance. On this one, her talents really come to fruition.

Most of the songs here are written by Rosanne and most are love songs. My favorites are "Closer than I Appear" and "Last Stop Before Home" Another great one is "Hope Against Hope" written by Jakob Dylan and Joe Henry. There are two songs about the end of life: "September When it Comes" and "Will You Remember Me." There is a feeling of poignancy to this whole record, in contemplating love or death. And see the little photo of a young man holding his baby daughter at the Memphis Zoo in 1955.

Every song is a great song. I only wish there had been more than 11. But why mess with perfection?

Let me start by saying I have been a huge Rosanne Cash fan from the beginning. Her amazing voice and spectacular song-writing have kept me enthralled for more than twenty years. And that's why I am especially sad to report that her new CD falls a little short of the quality that I have come to expect from such a talented and intriguing artist.

This album relies heavily on the sound on Cash's superior 1993 effort "The Wheel," both artistically and thematically. I think a lot of this is due to John Leventhal's involvement as the producer. In general, Leventhal relies heavily on gimmicky song introductions and glossy, overproduced sounds that, in many cases, work against the songs' meanings--and not in a manner that elevates the song's message or is compelling to the listener. When chronologically listening to Cash's "The Wheel," Shawn Colvin's "A Few Small Repairs" and "Whole New You" (also produced by Leventhal), and "Rules of Travel," it becomes pretty obvious that while Leventhal is an adequate songwriter, he is a one-trick pony when it comes to producing. I cannot help but wonder how "Rules" would have sounded had a different producer (such as Daniel Lanois) been hired instead. (Of course, because Leventhal and Cash are married, his involvement is understandable.)

On a positive note, Rosanne's Cash's song-writing on "Rules" is as excellent as ever. Since 1990's "Interiors," I have admired how Cash stares right in the face of mortality and asks the hard questions, all the while maintaining grace and composure. This aspect of her talent shines brightly on the track "September When It Comes," a stunning duet with her father, the spectacular Johnny Cash. Other triumphs include "Last Stop Before Home," "Rules Of Travel," and "44 Stories." My only complaint about the song-writing is that there are not enough songs written by Cash herself. I read an article in No Depression magazine in which Cash states that she gets tired of her own thoughts and longs to interpret other artist's songs, but I cannot help but feel a little short-changed, especially because she is one of the great American songwriters right now.

Of all the tracks, the most curious appearance on this CD is "Western Wall." I am baffled why this song is included. It was featured on 1996's amazing "10 Song Demo," and was subsequently recorded as a duet by Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt on their album of the same name. This newer version by Cash is not noticeably different than her previous version, nor does the song fit in this album's theme as effectively as other songs from "Demo" would have, such as "The Summer I Read Collette" and "Bells And Roses" (both of which have a strong "travelling" message).

Overall, this is a good CD..it is Rosanne Cash, after all! But it's not representative of Rosanne Cash's finest work, and it is certainly not her best album. (Also, the CD contains only 11 songs and runs under 40 minutes, which is too short for an album these days.) If you want to experience Cash's song-writing (untethered by over-production), check out "Interiors" and especially "10 Song Demo." Also recommended is "The Wheel," which is slightly overproduced but terrific nonetheless.

I am new to the Rosanne Cash bandwagon. Growing up in the '80's, I only remember her from that abysmal Top 40 hit "Seven Year Ache" that foreshadowed the coming of such tripe as Shania Twain. After listening to an indepth interview on NPR however, I became interested in this, her latest ablum. After purchasing it two weeks ago, it has yet to leave my CD player.

The songs contained here are heartfelt sagas played on an intimate level. Utilizing echoing and haunting production, Cash evokes great gardens of mystery and ghostly honest introspection. Singing a great duet with the excellent world weary traveller Steve Earl, Cash creates a perceptive and sensitive ( not to mention subtly humorous) attack on co-dependency and enabling. There are several other brilliant songs, but I cannot praise enough the heartbreaking duet she sings with her ailing father, one of the true voices of the eternal mountains- Johnny Cash in "September When It Comes".

"I can no longer move the mountains, I can no longer run.

I don't have the lyrics in front of me, so perhaps I missquoted, but that one line really fills the space with an honest pride.

RULES OF TRAVEL probably won't sell millions of copies. It isn't necessarily catchy or hummable. But it is beautiful. It is contemporary music for adults without all the yuppified new agey pseudo psycho babble. It is reflective without resorting to shallow nostalgia.

As of this date, May 10 2003, RULES OF TRAVEL earns my vote for record of the year.

I bought this CD after listening to Rosanne interviewed on NPR. On first listen I thought, That's good, worth another listen. Now, after many times through, I won't even consider taking this disc out of the CD player. It took a few times through for the hooks to sink in, but when they did, they sank in deep...whew!

This album is simply a masterpiece, and easily the best thing I've heard this year. Rosanne's own writing is strong and the covers she has chosen are a great compliment to the mood of this CD. I'd say the songs are thoughtful, evaluative, but I wouldn't call the album particularly dark or brooding. Loosing your step-mother and seeing the pending death of your father in the same year would make anyone consider the milestones their life had reached.

Gorgeous voice, excellent writing, simple, understated and highly appropriate production work. You won't do any better than this.