Personnel: Jackson Browne (vocals, guitar).

Recording information: Groovemasters, Santa Monica, California (2005).

Recorded live in front of an enthusiastic audience, 2005's SOLO ACOUSTIC VOL. 1 presents revered California singer/songwriter Jackson Browne performing many of the finest tunes from various eras of his career. Here Browne is on stage alone, accompanying himself on either acoustic guitar or keyboards, relating humorous tales about his music and life in between songs. This minimal setting allows Browne to get to the heart of these celebrated tunes, from early-1970s classics such as the achingly beautiful "These Days" and the thoughtful "For Everyman" to the later politically minded tracks "Lives in the Balance" and "Lookin' East."

Browne's clear, charismatic vocals shine in the spare context, and his alternately introspective and socially conscious narratives both benefit in this scenario. Listeners will be especially pleased to hear the closing track, "Take It Easy," which, of course, was a much bigger hit for the Eagles than for Browne himself. Some fans may bemoan the absence of "Running on Empty" and "Doctor My Eyes," but it's likely that the foreshadowed VOL. 2 will pick up on those and other missing Browne hits.

Rolling Stone (No. 986, p.90) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...Browne's strength has always been songwriting, and SOLO ACOUSTIC delivers those songs with no extra baggage."

Entertainment Weekly (No. 845, p.77) - "...[His] dogged sincerity sounds pretty damned good in 2005...." - Grade: B+

Dirty Linen (p.49) - "Old and new Browne fans should be well pleased with this bright-sounding, tastefully compiled release."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.136) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[H]ere's all the slipping dreams and empty beauty of Southern California life."