Harry Connick Jr's last full album of original tunes came out in 1997, so this 12-track collection of originals has been brewing for some time. It's an old-fashioned album, written by a somewhat cheesy romantic, but it's delivered with polish and aplomb, and it works in spite of its cliches. In his recent American Idol appearance, Connick was forthright in criticising the finalists for mangling some classic American Songbook tunes by over-singing them rather than understanding the lyrics. This album is a chance for Harry to put his money where his mouth is, and his knowing vocal performances turn lyrics that are questionable on the page into something more subtle. Sure there are some cheesy moments, but the title track will likely make it's way into that classic songbook, and there's something rather poignant about the washed-up musician story of Time To Go.
Stars: 3/5
- TimeOut
