A Far Cry From Dead

Unpredictability was always Townes' middle name. Just when you thought he was giving it heaps, he'd zip off into the stratosphere, not to be found for days - or weeks even. And A Far Cry From Dead is his postcard from the edge. Funny thing is, it's more polished and poised than anything he recorded while he shuffled on this mortal coil.

For diehard fans, there's a big bonus here: two previously unavailable tracks, both of which are sassy reminders of just how divine a songwriter he was. 'Sanitarium Blues' and 'Squash' are two more of those classic TVZ crazed, droll vignettes - this time taking death and armadillos for subject matter. Not quite

the material for a Celine Dion ballbreaker; more like the arsenal for a thousand

Texan gunslingers whose only company

is a hip flask, a guitar and a beating heart.

There are strings and spanish guitar aplenty here - enough to garner the kind of mainstream radio exposure that Townes never quite managed to seduce in 3D. 'For The Sake Of The Song' is a gorgeous, lustrous affair with that Van Zandt flatfooted vocal gliding on top of sympathetic yet seamless studio arrangements. 'Waitin' Round To Die' was prescient, as were so many of his songs: painting no-holds barred pictures of a life pockmarked and pummelled (and yes, beautifully bolstered, too) by whiskey.

But the sublime moments are many and often. 'Tower Song' is a magnificent ode to the tongue-tiedness of love. His voice cries like a wounded dog that's going to sit outside the door 'til he gets some TLC

and sympathy. And as for 'Many A Fine Lady', well, that buck naked TVZ honesty simply astounds as it lures you into submission.

It's difficult to be critical of a piece of work that others have moulded into a commercial product. Doubtless, Townes would've been tickled by the prospect of the corporate suits haggling over his back catalogue, and he'd probably grin at the career boost it'll bestow on him as he cackles from the balcony way up yonder.

If it's 24 carat Townes you're looking for, it's probably best to head straight for his back catalogue, (Blue Sky and Rex's Blues are pure Van Zandt). Then again, if your appetite demands the whole enchilada instead of the chicken shack nachos, place your order for the new, improved Townes right here.