Michael Franks: “Abandoned Garden”

Michael Franks
Abandoned Garden

Reprise 45998-2 (1995)
Rating: * * * *

After releasing so many albums, one has to wonder if Michael Franks is becoming repetitive or, even worse, a self parody. With this release, Abandoned Garden, Michael Franks proves that there is life and good music beyond “Popsicle Toes” and “Baseball”. In fact, his albums following the electric boogaloo entries Skin Dive and The Camera Never Lies have become better with each new release, shedding most of the electronics in favor of an acoustic, laid-back groove. Franks does not even have the ideal singing voice, but that does not detract from his appeal as a vocalist or composer. What he lacks in vocal forcefulness is made up for with a smooth and, dare I say it, seductive approach.

Franks’ first album, The Art of Tea, was good for a debut effort, replete with top session musicians and clever songwriting full of double entendres. Sleeping Gypsy, his second set, coincided with his meeting the Brazilian composer and musician Antonio Carlos Jobim. The effect was immediate–Franks’ sound took on Brazilian overtones that he would recall in future albums. This comes full circle with Abandoned Garden, recorded in memory of the late Antonio Carlos Jobim.

This album opens with “This Must Be Paradise” and “Like Water, Like Wind”, both recalling Antonio and Brazil, excellently arranged by Yellowjackets members Russell Ferrante and Jimmy Haslip. With the excellent Brazilian-influenced guitar work of Chuck Loeb and Franks’ vocal inflections, you can almost hear echoes of Jobim in these two selections. “This Must Be Paradise” successfully mimics Brazilian styling, but “Like Water, Like Wind” is Franks’ true tribute to Jobim here, recalling fond memories of the time they spent together and the admiration they shared for one another. The title track mourns his passing: “Though the samba has ended, I know in the sound of your voice, your piano, your flute, you are found…”.

Also produced by Ferrante and Haslip is “Somehow Our Love Survives”, a re-recording of a song which originally surfaced on a Joe Sample album sung by Al Jarreau. Another surprise here is contemporary Brazilian musician Djavan’s “Bird of Paradise”, with English lyrics supplied by Franks. Djavan’s original take was reggae-influenced, while Franks opts for a jazz touch.

Other tracks work fairly well in this context. “A Fool’s Errand” is textbook Michael Franks, further tales of love’s misadventures. “Hourglass” successfully parallels a woman to a timepiece. Two other tracks originate from Franks’ musical “Noa Noa” about the life of painter Gauguin: “Without Your Love” and the dialog “In The Yellow House”, presented here as a duet with Brian Mitchell (which sounds and feels slightly out of sync with the rest of the album).

Overall, I prefer Franks’ previous album Dragonfly Summer to this one; to me, it sounds more like a singular project. But this is not to belittle Abandoned Garden. It is a heartfelt tribute to a lost mentor and friend, fine music to listen to, and a very worthwhile addition to the Michael Franks catalog. Highly recommended.