Timothy B. Schmit - Leap of Faith
by Kevin Wierzbicki
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Longtime fans of Schmit will remember that before he joined the Eagles he was a member of Poco, and Leap of Faith's opening track "My Hat" sounds very much of that era; set to a loping rhythm and with pedal steel guitar as part of the instrumentation, Schmit has a joyous bounce to his vocals even though the song is about being told to move on by a lover. "Slow Down" finds Schmit taking his time with a funky reggae groove, "All Those Faces" has a rhythm, harmonica playing and an overall arrangement that recalls Neil Young (and like lots of Young's work, stretches to over seven minutes) while "I Refuse" uncharacteristically finds Schmit setting the mood to "grunge." Timothy's instantly-recognizable voice is in perfect form throughout and the subdued "You're So Wild" offers a classic example of his penchant for plaintive vocals, but it's nice to hear him stretch out a little too with some sweet Southern soul for "What I Should Do," and tap into the Bakersfield sound for the twangy and harmony-filled "Goodbye, My Love." The album ends with the delicate "This Waltz," a commentary on the unpredictability of life that surely will accompany many a slow dance and snuggles on the couch. Revered Nashville sideman Paul Franklin guests on steel guitar and jazz great Gary Burton sits in on vibes. Schmit will be back on the road with the Eagles next March but he has just begun a solo tour that continues through mid-December. Find all tour dates here
Timothy B. Schmit - Leap of Faith
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