Van Morrison gets the blues! should be the headline for this review. As both a Van Morrison fan and a lover of the blues - I love this CD! I might even go out and buy it! From the opening slow bluesy jam of “How Can A Poor Boy?” with it’s Hammond organ, harmonica and sparse production to the Live “And the Healing Has Begun” which is more traditional celtic Van Morrison - this CD is almost perfect. It is the first CD with all original material since 1999’s Back on Top. Van’s music doesn’t change drastically, it just gets deeper and more comfortable. Like a great pair of shoes.

How Can A Poor Boy? - Slow, Bluesy and real. Anything with a Hammond Organ turns me on.
School of Hard Knocks - A little bit of a country R&B vibe with a nice groove, backing vocals and lead guitar.
That’s Entrainment - I’m still not sure what entrainment is, but the tune has a nice upbeat ditty quality to it. Not my favorite.
Don’t Go to Nightclubs Anymore - He may not go to nightclubs anymore, but his song will be played at lots of nightclubs in the future. This is a slow, grinding, bow-tie untied, cigarette in one hand, cocktail in another torch song. Awesome.
Lover Come Back - A more traditional arrangement with sparse arrangement that really highlights Van’s voice although his diction gets in the way.
And the Healing Has Begun - This could be right off Astral Weeks, but with a more mature, deeper Van Morrison voice.

All in all, I really enjoy the album. As much because I really enjoy Van Morrison as anything else. Give it a listen at Rhapsody http://www.rhapsody.com/vanmorrison/19451587_keepitsimple