This is the latest chronicle of a guy who is living out his life, and it hasn't been great, but it never is what you thought it would be at eighteen. "Sometimes the road leads through dark places, and sometimes the darkness is your friend." Darker than some of his albums, there is still an element of hope in his world-weariness. "I wear my shadows where they're harder to see, but they follow me everywhere. I guess that should tell me I am traveling toward light." For those of you who consider middle-age a physical impossibility, you could do worse than traveling a mile or two in Cockburn's night.
5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1997Reviewed by Beverly WestergrenIntegrity: the quality in Bruce Cockburn's work that will enable a large portion of his writing and recordings to endure and the trait that has earned him the respect of colleagues and fans around the world. His creative, expertly performed, well-written music and lyrics offer enough shining facets to keep any listener satisfied. His new release, The Charity of Night, continues in this tradition.…The Phantom Tollbooth 1997Reviewed by James StewartApparently confession is the first step on the road to redemption, so I'd better come clean: this album is the first full release from Bruce Cockburn that I've listened to. I've seen Bruce's name around, come close to buying a couple of his albums, and even watched another show only two tents from where he was playing, but it's only now that I've really discovered Bruce Cockburn. Everything I'd…The Phantom Tollbooth 1997Reviewed by Linda T. StonehockerThe Charity of Night is my introduction to Bruce Cockburn. I'm told the variety on this project makes it a good jumping-off place into this singer/songwriter's twenty-plus disks, but I plan to stay right here until I wear out the CD. 4.5 tocksThe Phantom Tollbooth 1997Reviewed by Steven S. BaldwinThis is not a review. This is an unapologetic endorsement. Charity of Night is my favorite album of 1997, despite credible competition for the coveted title. Bruce approaches his best work here with songs that are finely crafted hybrids of folk, blues, and roots rock forms. The lyrics are impassioned and intelligent. The poetry is peerless. If you've been debating about this one, stop…Similar sounding releases
2003Sun Kil MoonGhosts of the Great Highway
2001Nick Cave & The Bad SeedsNo More Shall We Part
2003TimesboldTimesbold
2003Joel HendersonThe High Risk EP
2004Justin Rutledge and the Junction FortyNo Never Alone
2001Royal CityAlone at the MicrophoneMore from Bruce Cockburn
1977Circles in the Stream
1993Christmas
1999Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu
2003You've Never Seen Everything
2002Anything Anytime Anywhere
1997You Pay Your Money and You Take Your Chance
