Teaser and the Firecat

iTunes Review

Released in 1971, less than a year after the stunning Tea for the Tillerman, Teaser and the Firecat yielded some of Cat Stevens’ most enduring songs — “Peace Train,” “Morning Has Broken,” “Moonshadow” — but there’s much more to the album than its singles. This is a cohesive and moving record that ranges from delicate ballads to irresistible sing-along anthems, and features a slew of elegant melodies. The lyrics range from joyous to serious, but natural optimism shines through despite his sometimes dismal take on the state of the world. In addition to the above hits, other highlights include the infectious Caribbean lilt of “Tuesday’s Dead,” the lyrical bouzouki lines on “Rubylove,” the fingerpicked guitar melody on “The Wind,” and the stuttering groove of “Bitterblue.” Among the warmest of folk-rock singers, his voice carries these songs, rising and falling with each subtle shift in melody or tempo. Released in the midst of a creative outpouring that stretched across seven albums in five years, Teaser and the Firecat stands out as one of the strongest recordings of his impressive career.