American Standard
| James Taylor
American Standard
American Standard is the twentieth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor. The album was released on February 28, 2020, by Fantasy Records. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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PopMatters
American Standard is ultimately for those who see James Taylor's name on the cover, read the songs listed on the back, and can immediately hear how they will sound in their head. Throughout most of the album, the sound in their head won't be wrong. After all, it's a James Taylor album of American standards for Pete's sake, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's as easy as falling off a log.
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All Music
On American Standard, Taylor applies his gentle magic to classics like "My Blue Heaven" and "The Nearness of You," refashioning their well-worn melodies into the friendly and inviting mode that is his signature.
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meaww
Even with the addition of a song that discusses racism, this album is mostly filled with the kind of simple joy many of us yearn for at a time when the world has a whole lot of painful things.
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The Times
Since he made his name with such introspective reflections on troubled youth as Fire and Rain and Sweet Baby James, you would hope that James Taylor would have some interesting things to say about life in his eighth decade. Instead he has gone the easy way of Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart and countless other baby boomers and made an album of retirement-home friendly golden oldies.
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Herald Standard
a charming collection of soothing lullabies for grown-ups.
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No Ripcord
Every solid moment on American Standard is outmatched by a one to ten ratio of awry choices for songs that shouldn’t be hard to ruin. It’s almost impressive to see James Taylor screw up songs that are fundamentally easy to cover.
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Stack
James Taylor, however, has an innate ability to inhabit songs he didn't write and make them his own, as evidenced on his newest release of standards and show songs that were part of the family record collection.
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MSN
it’s like building an open goal out of cast recording albums – his “Moon River” drifts languidly by on dappled eddies of acoustic and reed, his “Ol’ Man River” is all supine Dixie delicacy, his “Almost Like Being in Love” (from Brigadoon) is the sort of Mississippi folk hammock of a tune that Mark Twain, had he been a man of notes rather than letters, might have writ.
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Elmore Magazine
This is great music at its very best, delivered by an absolute master of his craft. In short, this is as good as it gets.
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Pure Grain Audio
American Standard is a great album to shelve among your collection of soothing sounds. The only difference is this one shines a little brighter than most and it warms my heart to bust it out in the coldest of winters…
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Independent
Artist’s 19th album turns his acclaimed arpeggios to the world of music theatre.
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The Young Folks
My grandmother would’ve enjoyed this album if she were still here. Taylor stills showcases the ability to demonstrate empathy from the simple glow of his amicable voice.
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On The Records
This is an easy album to recommend. Just look over the song list. If you like the songs, and you like James Taylor, you’ll definitely enjoy American Standard.
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