A Life Worth Living

There’s an unmistakable sense of homecoming to Marc Broussard’s A Life Worth Living. After a stint on Atlantic, the singer/songwriter returns to Vanguard for his sixth album. Most significantly, his latest songs draw on his personal experiences for inspiration, giving the tracks real intimacy. Broussard sings with a natural soulfulness worthy of Bill Withers and Otis Redding. He finds an able studio partner in Paul Moak, who produces the tracks with an ear for both accessibility and rootsiness. There’s a generosity of spirit in his lyrics, leavened with self-knowledge and playful humor. Tunes like “Honesty” and “Another Day” (a duet with Company of Thieves’ Genevieve Schatz) confront romantic heartache without flinching. “Hurricane Heart” manages to be simultaneously rueful and jaunty as it alludes to both a broken friendship and the struggles of Broussard’s native New Orleans. The album's range and breadth is impressive, stretching from the steamy workouts like “Dyin’ Man” and “Man Ain’t Supposed to Cry” to reflective ballads like “Give ‘Em Hell” and “I’ll Never Know.” A Life Worth Living is a testament straight from the heart, as well as Broussard’s strongest album in years.