John Denver: Poems, Prayers, And Promises : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

John Denver has a problem with sincerity. He's loaded to the gills with it, and also with the kind of welterweight political conscience the Chad Mitchell Trio used to make the most of when they'd bad-mouth Barry Goldwater and then call themselves "irreverent." John, despite the early evidence of his Mitchell Trio days (he took over lead position when Chad left the group and took his first name with him; right about then the boys got immeasurably better, though nobody bought enough records to find out), is just about as reverent as they come.

He's also corny as Kansas in August, full of enough tiresome platitudes about sunshine and feelings and giving peace a chance to render a good many of his compositions far too McKuenesque for comfort. What he also is, surprisingly enough, is a very solid goodtimey singer who is at least talented enough to be forgiven a few of his trespasses.

John's made four albums since his "Leaving On A Jet Plane" success brought him away from the trio and out on his own. They're all uneven, but this may well be the best of the lot by virtue of the better-than-average number of rough diamonds in its midst. "Take Me Home, Country Roads" is the cut that had some AM airplay, and it's a showcase example of John doing what he does best - bright, easy singing, friendly, workmanlike 12-string, and above all not falling into the trap of taking himself too seriously.

Often enough his own songs can carry off this same quality of tuneful, eminently listenable simplicity; even when he gets to waxing pensive, John can usually maintain just enough good cheer to carry him through (as in the above-average title cut). His own songs will never seem extraordinary, but they're usually melodic and amiable enough to counteract those lyrics that smack of shameless mush.

Back when John still hung out with the Trio, he used to do other people's material, and do it surprisingly well at that. He still does; the album contains particularly pleasant cover versions of "Fire and Rain," "Let It Be," and McCartney's "Junk," to which Denver's voice is just about perfectly suited. As for the rest–well, just forget about that Stillsian ode John's written to His Lady, or the poem he recites that'll just about drive you out of the room (conveniently located at the end of side two). Just sit on back and take it easy. John will make it seem even easier.