Marc Cohn takes some chances this time out. The sound, while inviting, is generally a bit rougher and dirtier than on his other albums -- thank goodness. His manner of writing has shifted as well, from well-clipped phrases (still present on the album's beautiful gospel and soul-tinged opener, Listening to Leon) to places where the ends of his lines become absorbed into the instrumental backing. And yes, it is a very good thing. Excellent examples are on the moody second cut, The Calling (Charlie Christian's Tune), where Charlie Sexton's loops, the two drummers playing counterpoint shuffles, Benmont Tench on B-3, and Patrick Warren on Chamberlin and pump organ wrap his voice inside an atmosphere of such warmth and depth that the singer gets seduced by his own tale. There's real interaction here, not just a singer and a backing band. Sexton's electric guitar and Shane Fontayne's strumming acoustic give Cohn the ability to let himself get lost in all this support. And underneath it all is Jennifer Condos' bass, inching the story along. The backing vocals by Charley Drayton and Ephram Owens' muted trumpet solo bring everybody to the table, and the story unfolds like one told in close quarters. Dance Back from the Grave brings a sinister, distorted, controlled snarl with Sexton's guitars, the acoustic bassline, the drummers, the horns, and Cohn's world-weary voice, sounding like he's on the edge of some precipice calling like a prophet into the heavens, hells, and other realms for the dead of New Orleans to rise and make their way back to Congo Square for one more night, for a proper sendoff. The Holmes Brothers' deep, sweet three-part harmonies (with Popsy Dixon's gorgeous falsetto riding the top) transform a rather ordinary, bluesy Southern blue-eyed soul tune into something wholly other.

1		Listening to Levon
2		The Calling (Charlie Christian's Tune)
3		Dance Back from the Grave
4		If I Were an Angel
5		Let Me Be Your Witness
6		Live out the String
7		Giving up the Ghost
8		Join the Parade
9		My Sanctuary
10		Life Goes On