Whenever artists release loose-ends collections like this, one can't help but wonder why such fine songs did not originally make it on proper albums in the first place. And although this album cannot be certified a lost treasure, it is, nevertheless, filled with jewels that deserve the light of day only an album release can provide. Not surprisingly, these are singer Karen Peris' impressionistic thoughts about everyday life experiences, quiet moments of reflection, and the infinite flight routes of the soul -- many times with quite colorful lyrical references. On "Song About Traveling," for example, she sings: "The colors of rowboats, the greens and the blues / Orange grove side streets you only see halfway." For the most part, these lyrical dreamscapes are backed by husband Don Peris' equally dreamy guitar echoes. Percussion is mostly of the hushed brushes and lightly tapped kind, and occasional organ and piano touches are dropped in for variety's sake. This disc's real treat is the closer, "I Have Loved You," which sounds like an old post-Jesus People chorus, as it was written back in 1979. It's an emotionally touching moment, with its straightforward expression of worship, and provides a nice contrast to the band's sometimes non-specific lyrics. The Innocence Mission may be a small plane in a world of jet monsters, but even minor offerings such as this fly high. Be sure to catch it whenever mass transit just doesn't do it for you anymore.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Jeffrey OverstreetDon and Karen Peris have better "leftover" songs than most bands' best work. Not only is this archival collection beautiful, but it's cohesive and thematic as well. A lot of bands, when they're in a rut or running out of ideas, release a "b-sides" or "leftovers" collection, something to keep the fans and collectors busy. These albums usually feature one or two real gems that deserved to be…Similar sounding releases
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