Van Morrison: What's Wrong With This Picture? : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

On the title track of What's Wrong With This Picture?, an ode to his ever-changing self, Van Morrison proclaims with uncharacteristic giggle, "It don't mean a thing/if it ain't got that swing.And a ring-a-ding-ding." True to his word, on his first album for the legendary jazz label Blue Note, Morrison blends Duke Ellington's mantra with Frank Sinatra's finger-snapping tuxedo cool, swinging from straight blues and R&B to classic pop and jazz. He's still grousing about the media in songs such as "Too Many Myths," "Fame" and "Goldfish Bowl." But "Whinin' Boy Moan" shows that he can stand back and laugh at himself, too. Other highlights include the beautiful "Evening in June," the jaunty "Once in a Blue Moon" and "Little Village," a song that would not have been out of place on Moondance. Eclectic and ambitious without ever seeming forced, Morrison is relaxed throughout this entire set. There is no filler or slackness here, either. In fact, there is nothing wrong with this picture.