NYC's Edward Rogers is back. Some of you may remember his fine 2004 disc Sunday Fables (which you can pick up for a bargain $5 at Not Lame), and the just-released You Haven't Been Where I've Been is the equally worthy followup.
This disc certainly has the pedigree. Roger McGuinn himself adds his trademark 12-string jangle to "Blind Man's Blue" as well as banjo to "It Took Years and Years and Years", while The Church's Marty Willson-Piper rocks out on "Graveyard Voices". Also guesting are Pete Kennedy (of the Kennedys) and Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken. Plus, the whole thing is mixed by Mitch Easter. Thankfully, the disc sounds as good as it looks on paper. While on first listen the title track sounds like a rocking statement of defiance, it takes on additional meaning and depth considering Rogers suffered the loss of a limb and nearly died a few years ago. "I'll Always Leave The Light On" is another quality jangler, and "Far Reflection" is a quality Brit-sounding ballad like the kind Ray Davies is known for. Rogers was born in England before moving to New York City, and there is definitely an Anglophilic undercurrent to the disc, not unlike the Pale Hollow disc from earlier this year.
While most of us are fortunate not to have been where Edward Rogers has been recently, it's at least gratifying to see that he's come through his personal difficulties with an outstanding disc that's worth the price of admission.
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