Album Review: "My Favorite Picture Of You" by Guy Clark

Since this is Guy Clark's first album in the past 4 years it just shows that true art takes time. It's the job of every songwriter to tell the story of their joys, heartbreaks, tragedies and little memorable moments life has to offer. This album is exactly that, and that is what you would expect from a songwriting legend like Guy Clark.

 The title track is one of the best songs on the record. It is a tribute to Guy's late wife Susanna. The song is about the picture of her he is holding on the album cover. "Oh and you were so angry it's hard to believe we were lovers at all. There's a fire in your eyes. You've got your heart on your sleeve, a curse on your lips, but all I can see is beautiful."  He sings the story of a true love that went through many hardships but somehow always stayed together and never faded away.

With lines like "Love's a gamble, love's a curse, love's a bitch, but it could be worse" he sings about the true battles of dealing with lost loves but still believing love is out there somewhere in "Hellbent On A Heartache." "Rain In Durango" also talks about the ongoing search for love "She's just waiting on some cowboy to lasso her heart and take her home." In "Cornmeal Waltz" he tells the life of an old dance hall with "Beat up old Stetsons," "beehive hair," and "belt buckles bumping in time." It's reminiscent of a time where life just seemed simpler.

Songs like "El Coyote" and "Heroes" tell stories with very serious messages. "El Coyote" is about the fatal troubles illegal immigrants have faced crossing the border. "Heroes" is a song that is downright just not fair. Featuring Emmylou Harris' always hauntingly heartbreaking vocals it talks about how a soldier's life is never the same after coming home. They will always continue struggling with everyday life because the vivid memories of war are always in the back of their minds. "Heroes can't always be heroes. Who's gonna save the hero from himself?"

We are living in a time where music is mass produced. Big name songwriters get together to try to write the catchiest, most cliche songs they possibly can to get it overplayed on radio. Why would you want a big radio hit if it will only be forgotten in a year or two? Albums like this are nice reassurances that there are still true artists and songwriters out there who put their heart and soul into every single song. They can create music that will be remembered years from now. The latest fads and trends will always fade away, but truth will always remain.

Essential tracks:  "My Favorite Picture Of You" " Heroes" "Hellbent On A Heartache"
Rating: A