As a long time Van Morrison fan, I have nearly everything he has ever recorded. The songwriting is not up to that of his best work but that is a very high standard to achieve. This is a spare sound that he apparently intentionally achieves. It gives plenty of room to appreciate his voice and the way he and only very few others can interpret a song. I enjoy the album but would rank it in the middle to maybe lower third of his work. That still ranks it as better than just about anything else out there. Probably the album is one that will grow on you but, if you are not expecting songs that keep it REAL simple, you will be disappointed.