Great American Music!

^{‘Keep It Simple’ Van Morrison}

One of pop music’s finest singers follows the advice of the title on this good, but not great, album.

Over the gentle guitars, organ, accordion, rhythm section and female backing vocalists, Morrison, 62, adds his ukulele, saxophone and, of course, that supple and soulful voice to 11 originals.

There are fun songs, such as That’s Entrainment and Don’t Go to Nightclubs Anymore (”Alcohol was too big a price / Listen I just said no dice”). There are a couple of beautiful ballads, such as Lover Come Back and End of the Land.

But perhaps the best song is Soul, with its affirmative message “Soul is not the color of your skin / Soul is the essence, essence from within.” Morrison’s voice on the track is subtle and smooth instead of strident and scorching.

Several of his lyrics, however, are laced with spite, which keeps the album from being one of his best. For example: “Tell me who’s gonna patronize me now” (School of Hard Knocks), “They mocked me when I was singing this song” (Keep It Simple), and “I’m getting too tired to start all over again” (No Thing).

Get Van Morrisons latest songs at iTunes