In 1966,
Bob Lind was chasing the bright, elusive butterfly of love, but a half-century later, he seems to have developed a less optimistic view of matters of the heart. Just four years after 2012's
Finding You Again (which was
Lind's first studio album since 1971's
Since There Were Circles, suggesting a quantum leap in his productivity),
Lind has delivered
Magellan Was Wrong, and for the most part the songs are artful but cynical, crafted with care but suggesting
Lind has been having a hard time with both love and life in general. "I Don't Know How to Love You," "Blind Love," and "Never Even There" all reflect a world-weary, dispassionate outlook on relationships, and in his notes,
Lind dismissively mentions "these me-first, feminist times." Then again, "You, Lola, You!" points to the overall absurdity of love (and love songs), while "The Outsider's Dream" and the title song are paeans to lives where things don't quite work out. Ultimately,
Magellan Was Wrong is where
Bob Lind has given the misanthropic side of his mind free rein, though his philosophy hasn't much changed his craft.
Lind is in fine voice here, and his 21st Century blend of vintage pop, smooth jazz, and soft rock sounds as confident as it did on
Finding You Again, while the melodies are, if anything, even stronger.
Lind also finds something sad and introspective in
Tom Paxton's "Bottle of Wine," and the album's production (divided between
Lind,
Jamie Hoover,
Greg Foat, and
Frank "Rat" Falestra) is clean but imaginative, sounding full and intelligent without too much gingerbread. The
Bob Lind of
Magellan Was Wrong is a very different man than he was in 1966, or even 2012; not every fan will embrace what he has to say, but his craft remains strong, and it's more than clear that he has plenty to say and a genuine gift for getting his message across. ~ Mark Deming
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