What does it sound like?:
It’s 11 years since Suzanne Vega’s last album of self-penned original material (2014’s snappily titled Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles). In the meantime there have been live retrospectives and a jazz-tinged album of songs about novelist Carson McCullers written in collaboration with others. The new album is therefore both welcome and unexpected. It’s also extremely good, recognisably Suzanne Vega in style and delivery but with strongly accessible tunes and plenty of modern musical flourishes. At 37 minutes and 10 songs it’s also brief, but none the less punchy and eclectic for that. Vega manages to cram in a variety of styles from Vega-esque ‘Flying With Angels’ and ‘Last Train From Mariupol’ to soulful ‘Love Thief’ and tribute to Lucinda Williams, ‘Lucinda’. Best of the lot are the tongue in cheek Dylan tribute ‘Chambermaid’ which pretty much nicks the tune from ‘I Want You’ while professing that “I took nothing he would miss”, and the driving ‘Alley’ which positively rocks along. What all the songs have in common is a consistent pop sensibility and accessibility that previous Suzanne Vega sometimes lacked. As such it might just be the most fully realised and best album of her long career.
What does it all *mean*?
Set aside your preconceptions of Suzanne Vega as a buttoned-up coffee shop troubadour. Her voice has more warmth to it these days and she’s musically loosened up. She’s even pictured laughing inside the CD booklet. Everyone has a late career masterpiece left in them, and this may be the one.
Goes well with…
A trip to Greenwich Village with a Simon & Garfunkel album tucked under your sleeve? Think again.
Release Date:
May 2025
Might suit people who like…
This is the album you always hoped she would make.
Fandabidozi!!!!
I detect a bit of Simple Twist Of Fate in there too.
I thinks she’s having some fun with this one. I’m in.
Interesting. Think I have her first 4 albums but haven’t bothered since then.
Added to my inbound list – always been a fan, but she dropped off my radar a while back; I need nothing more than your splendidly appreciative review to re-invigorate my interest.
First listen – most impressive. Significantly ‘her’. Sounds like a grower.
I had it in my basket for purchase on Friday – looking forward to it…
I can attest to this…it’s a really enjoyable album and I lost touch about 30 years or so ago. Great to hear some real tunes and Crowded Housey melodies. This might be a summer driving staple…
I reconnected with her music again after her first few albums and a long gap with 2020’s live album ” An Evening of New York Songs and Stories” recorded at The Carlyle Hotel, which is great fun and also really well recorded. Always good to hear her sidekick and ex Bowie guitarist Gerry Leonard too. The first single from this new album ” Speaker’s Corner” is prime Vega. I concur, this is a really good late period album .
I’d drifted away but saw her in the acoustic tent at Glastonbury about 25 years ago and she was fab. I will be tracking this down.
I’m grateful for the alert that this even existed. I’m streaming it on repeat and might well buy it. I had her first few albums and I think this is better than any of them. It’s got a lovely light touch despite the sometimes heavy subject matter.
She’s certainly got previous with the heavy manners.
Wouldn’t have been on my radar as I drifted away like most others on here but that is a really lovely song and a good review. My interest is piqued.
Thanks a lot for this excellent review.
I am off to give it a listen at once.
Yes, put me down as an SV fan. Terrific voice, fine songwriter, tip-top live performer.
My 3 favourite Vega albums:
1. Suzanne Vega (eponymous debut)
2. Lover, Beloved
3. 99.9 F°
I see that she’s touring Europe in October, but naturally she’s not playing Stockholm.
Thanks for the review, Boneshaker. I’ve just ordered the album!
I’ll be buying this. I’ve been with her from the start.
Might not do much for my credibility on these pages – but I passed on the chance of a Neil Young gig in Birmingham NEC (1987) with my mates, because I already had tickets for Suzanne Vega, playing at the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow on the same night. With my girlfriend at the time. You can imagine the comments…
I only know that one album that everyone bought…but I saw her live in 2016 and enjoyed it a lot.
At the time I took a mental note to look up her other stuff, but it was at a festival, so other notes pushed that one to the side…and I never did.
Perhaps this is a good time to give her another chance.
When I went to purchase at my usual emporium it was sold out – a good sign. Hopefully I’ll get it in the coming week.
I bought this on the strength of the review. Not someone I have given a moment’s thought to since Luka, Tom’s Diner etc.
Only listened once so far, but I’m thinking it’s pretty good.
For anyone liking Suzanne Vega’s new album who has lost touch with her since the early days, I can recommend Tales From the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles and 99.9 F° as fine places to reconnect from opposite ends of her career. All of her albums are good but Nine Objects of Desire may be worth a miss.
I liked Nine Objects of Desire, although I haven’t played it for years, but struggled with 99.9 F°. Funny thing, taste, innit?
Looking at her Wiki page, there’s an album, Beauty & Crime, which I haven’t heard (of) at all.
It’s worth a listen.
I doubt I’ve played it in a decade or more. It must be time to give it another go.
I saw her play in Wellington a few years ago and it was one of my very favourite gigs by anyone. She engaged with the audience in such a way it was like meeting up with an old friend. Absolutely brilliant.
I’m a fan and I think I’ve most of the lady’s albums.
Yours is a fine review of the new album Mr Boneshaker. If you’re a fan and you can get hold of it I recommend the 2 CD edition.