The Trouble with Normal

by Bruce Cockburn

Overview

Like his two previous efforts in the '80s, The Trouble With Normal places Bruce Cockburn yet another step further from his days as Canada's resident mystic folky. And while he had touched on similar musical themes on earlier recordings, the eclectic blend of folk, rock, and world music here is much more defined and realized. The use of synths, electric guitar, violin, and Chapman Stick, along with the occasional keyboard and drum sequences, complement the weighty, ominous nature of his lyrical concerns, which seem to paint a picture of a world, though teetering on the edge, still filled with beauty ("Hoop Dancer"), hope ("Put Our Hearts Together"), and contentment ("Waiting for the Moon to Show"). Amidst the "chaos" and "fashionable fascism," Cockburn's message, though cloaked in frustration and cynicism, and not nearly as overt as it has been in the past, is still one of faith and love. There is the tendency to get heavy-handed at times, but still, The Trouble With Normal contains some of Cockburn's most beautifully imagistic writing to date and is another strong effort. The U.S. release contains an alternate, yet inferior take of the title track, which makes the Canadian (True North) version preferable. [This reissue includes two bonus tracks: "Cala Luna" and "I Wanna Dance With You."] ~ Brett Hartenbach

Product Details

Release Date:	04/07/2009
Label:	True North Records
UPC:	0620638028926
Rank:	74174

Tracks

1. The Trouble with Normal [le Probl¿¿me de l'¿¿tat Normal]
2. Candy Man's Gone [Papa G¿¿teau]
3. Hoop Dancer [le Danseur aux Cerceaux]
4. Waiting for the Moon [en Attendant La Lune]
5. Tropic Moon [Lune des Tropiques]
6. Going Up Against Chaos [Se Dressant Contre le Chaos]
7. Put Our Heart's Together
8. Civilization and Its Discontents [La Civilisation et Ses Malaises]
9. Planet of the Clowns [Plan¿¿te des Clowns]
10. Cala Luna
11. I Wanna Dance with You

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bruce Cockburn   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Dulcimer
Dennis Pendrith   Bass,Stick
Colina Phillips   Vocals (Background)
Dick Smith   Percussion
Sharon Williams   Vocals (Background)
Shaun Jackson   Vocals (Background)
Bob Disalle   Drums
Shawne Jackson   Vocals (Background)
Sharon Lee Williams   Vocals (Background)
Hugh Marsh   Mandolin,Violin
Jon Goldsmith   Keyboards

Technical Credits

George Marino   Mastering
Vladimir Meller   Remastering
Bruce Cockburn   Composer
Gene Martynec   Producer
Michael Whiteside   Photography
Michael Wurstin   Art Direction
Gary Gray   Engineer