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Title: A Change of Direction
Review: Back on Top marks a decisive break from the soul-jazz sound which has distinguished Van the Man's work from Enlightenment to The Healing Game. There are significantly fewer horn charts here (oh, where have you gone Pee Wee Ellis?), but Brian Kennedy is barely present (thankfully). The tunes are finely crafted, and Van's voice is as stunning as ever (why should it surprise anyone that this album charted so well?). Taking his cue from early Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues, and even Jazz (it wouldn't be difficult to imagine Diana Krall covering "When The Leaves Come Falling Down"), Van seems to be starting over in some way. Certainly, the pair of albums which proceed Back on Top show Van mining his past. This is, undoubtedly, necessary for any artist, but it makes me hope he'll find his inner Soul Man again and we will someday be treated with another Caledonia Soul Orchestra. By most standards, this is a superb album, but we ask more of Van. For Morrison, this is good, not great.
