The main interest of Troubadour, like J.J. Cale's other albums, lies in the seamlessness of its craft, especially the textural relation between guitars and percussion. Cale is a classicist involved in presenting traditional Deep South modes in contemporary electric settings, while maintaining the meditative restraint of the source. To this end, Cale keeps a low vocal profile and stubbornly reins his guitar.

Cale's original songs are mostly rockabilly and prerockabilly fragments that stay close to their roots. In execution, Cale is much more concerned with building quiet but powerful rhythms than with conventional rock & roll declaration. But his reticence, though tasteful, is finally too restrictive. "Hey Baby" is the only memorable song among a bunch of well-crafted, extended motifs. For example, the whole of "You Got Something" uses one note and two chords. "The Woman That Got Away" offers only a token vocal line above a three-note blues figure. Though these may be admirable exercises, they simply don't work as tunes. (RS 225)

STEPHEN HOLDEN