Covenant

1	'Cept You And Me Babe 4:32
2	Rexroth's Daughter 4:55
3	Real Good Friend 3:55
4	Blues Go Walking 3:19
5	Waiting On You 4:28
6	Living In A Prayer 3:45
7	Dream City 4:12
8	Lullaby 4:20
9	Blue Car 4:11
10	Walkin' Daddy 4:45
11	Pretty One More Time 5:14
12	[Untitled Track] 3:49

Barnes & Noble

After three years away from the studio, Greg Brown is back with a collection of originals that take a decidedly personal turn. As a lyricist, Brown is a passionate observer of the paths of love, framing his insights in deceptively straightforward lyrical imagery. In "Lullaby," he paints a portrait of a lengthy marriage with a seductive sensuality, while "Dream City" is a folk-rock evocation of love longed for. Brown's physical landscape is the Midwest where he grew up and still lives, and his bluesily melodic growl of a voice celebrates that fact on the bouncy "Walkin' Daddy." Patient CD listeners will also find a hidden bonus track, "Marriage Chant," a rap-style take on domestic bliss. Covenant, as its title subtly implies, is at heart a collection of love songs -- songs of love lost, love found, love abiding and love longed for -- all turned in the phrases of one of our most emotionally vivid troubadours. Kerry Dexter

All Music Guide

If you still haven't discovered Greg Brown, this is as good a place to start as any. His deep, vibrant voice -- as instantly recognizable as that of Fred Neil, Tim Buckley, or Van Morrison -- remains a national treasure, and so does his songwriting, which has gone from great to better over the years. Wisely keeping the production simple and his voice upfront on this release, he unveils some of his best songs about love, life, friendship, dreams, and the American scene. There are no major departures from form here, but hope and love -- not to mention hummable melodies -- are perhaps in greater evidence than in the past. There's not a rotten apple in the bunch, but highlights include the effusive "Rexroth's Daughter"; "Lullaby," about a long-married couple; and the lilting "Walkin' Daddy." And stay tuned after the album's official end for a "hidden" track, the very funny "Marriage Chant," whose lyrics offer a sort of modern variation on Rodgers and Hart's "I Wish I Were in Love Again." Jeff Burger