Natural History

On Natural History, J.D. Souther reconsiders both his hits for Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles and his own catalog of albums from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Souther’s elegance as a composer as well as his spare, rueful lyric style come through in unvarnished style on these acoustic-centered tracks. The jazz influence present on his 2008 release If the World Was You can be heard here as well, lending a low-lit nightclub ambiance to these tunes. Souther’s high tenor vocals sound seasoned and a little world-weary, adding to the wistful fatalism found in songs like “Faithless Love,” “Prisoner In Disguise” and “Go Ahead and Rain.” Singing from an older and perhaps wiser perspective, he brings a deepened insight to “New Kid In Town” and “Best of My Love.” Among other things, the album highlights the melodic sophistication of Souther’s chords and melodies — “Silver Blue” and “The Sad Café” especially shine in this stripped-down setting. For old fans and new listeners alike, Natural History makes for beautifully bittersweet listening.