Albums by this artist

Never Home (1997)

Freedy Johnston

Never Home

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» PATRICK KASTNER | STAFF WRITER

Freedy Johnston Never Home Elektra, 1997 RiYL: Dan Bern, John Hiatt, Shawn Colvin

Freedy Johnston is one of those rare singer/songwriters who can write great lyrics and craft a good song to go along with them. Never Home is produced by Danny Kortchmar, who has worked on albums for Carole King, James Taylor and Neil Young, and it shows. The album's airy arrangements and laid-back pacing make it sound like something right out of the '70s.

The songs on the album are not nearly as affecting as those on 1992's Can You Fly, and the arrangements aren't as good as '94's Butch Vig-produced This Perfect World. But more often than not, the songs work, and Johnston's songs are as stirring as ever in their themes.

Every song on Never Home could be a depressing, angst-filled narrative. But Johnston's vocals and music lead the listener to believe otherwise. There's always a hope Johnston's black clouds have silver linings. And it's that hope that makes his songs so arresting.

PATRICK KASTNER | Affectionately known as Cousin Patty (yes, it's a "Throw Momma From The Train" reference), Patrick Kastner is a designer for the Columbus Post-Dispatch.