Roadsinger (Bonus Track Version)

iTunes Review

It’s a rite of passage for many aspiring musicians to pick up an acoustic guitar and learn a few tunes by the iconic ‘70s singer/songwriter Cat Stevens. So it’s perfectly natural that modern artists such as Michelle Branch, James Morrison, and Gunnar Nelson contribute seamless backing vocals to Roadsinger, the new album from Yusuf, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens. A mostly self-produced project, it features co-production work from Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, KT Tunstall, Martin Sexton) on three tracks. Themes range from the intimately personal to the broadly spiritual, and Yusuf's trademark gift for vivid narrative is alive and well in the title track's literal scene setting and in the beautifully laid out allegory of "All Kinds of Roses." Yusuf can still pen a timeless tune, too; "Thinking 'Bout You" and "Everytime I Dream" have the sounds of instant musical old friends even at first listen. Equally engaging are the warm, largely acoustic arrangements on tracks such as "Welcome Home" and "Dream On (Until...)" which so perfectly frame his comforting voice.