John Prine

Unlike virtually every other act in his age group, veteran singer/songwriter John Prine is
doing the best work of his career right now. Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings is an even
stronger piece of work than his acclaimed comeback effort, "The Missing Years." Produced
once again with grace and taste by Howie Epstein of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,
"Lost Dogs" is full of new, typically idiosyncratic Prine delights including the ravis... More >

Although ex-Heartbreaker Howie Epstein gets more hooks out of his acoustic warrior than his old boss is tossing off, his idea of radio-ready does leave one waiting for the guitarist to shut up already. But usually that's because you're impatient for the next line, and usually it's a winner--if anything, Prine's waggish pathos and lip-smacking Americanese have been whetted by the divorce that keeps nosing in where it's not wanted. Homely thematic/metaphorical leaps are a common structural device--first the TV is hollering at him, then his wife ("They already think my name is where in the hell you been"), then the voice in his head that won't leave him alone. (Grade: A)