Van Morrison - Pay The Devil

Van Morrison has played with country music before. The fantastic Tupelo Honey, from the peak of his career in the early 1970s, was almost entirely a country album. So Pay the Devil should come as no shock to anyone familiar with Van's tendency to follow a particular muse down The Man's own little idyosychratic path. And following him turns out to be a fun ride for fans.

Pay the Devil is primarily a covers album, though Van does throw in three excellent new originals that fit right in with old warhorses like "Your Cheatin' Heart." Van plays these songs with warmth and even a bit of reverence, showing a deep understanding of what makes these songs great. His vocal style fits very well into these songs; so well, in fact, that the record doesn't seem surprising or jarring in any way. It feels right, as though Van had been doing it for years and could continue for years to come. Van manages to avoid too many vocal histronics (which he does sometimes have a weakness for), and his mellow, soulful voice carries each song easily and lovingly.

The song selection for this record is fantastic: well-known tracks and lesser-known gems sit side by side, each receiving the same care and attention and stellar delivery. Van's originals--"Pay the Devil," "Playhouse," and "This has got to Stop"--are by turns playful, forceful, and sparkling with wit, energy, and creativity.

The oddest element to the record is the inclusion of a noticeable string section in virtually every song. Set alongside the pedal steel guitar that appears virtually throughout, it seems strange and almost out of place (but still very Van Morrison). Van also happens to play guitar on almost every track, which is unusual for The Man (who generally just sings, though he's a very capable guitarist). Ultimately, the songs swing along at a good country gait, revealing very little new about these songs that wasn't already known, but feeling comfortable and fun.

And really, that's what this record's all about: not creating revelatory, earth-shaking music, but crafting a solid, enjoyable, fun record of songs you very likely already know but will like hearing anyway. Country done Van Morrison style, which is to say with a healthy dose of blue-eyed soul and a good bit of fun. Pay the Devil may not be the most mind-bending record of 2006, but it's definitely one of the most enjoyable on a purely aesthetic level.

~chuck

Song of the Moment: Van Morrison, "This has got to Stop"