J.J. Cale – Roll On

Is that a bad thing? No, hell, of course not. We need J.J. Cale to change about as much as we need cheese-flavoured marmite. As a friend put it: What is there to say? He's J.J. Cale! He's great.

J.J. Cale rolls on. You could play this new album right after my personal favourite album, 5 (1979), without anyone noticing that the two were recorded 30 years apart. He's still there, with those dryly produced, closely recorded vocals, with his relaxed strumming, sexy brushes and comforting piano chords, thoughtfully ruminating on life, and occasionally rising from his sea to capture a moment of bluesy euphoria, just as he did on "Thirteen Days", with a line like "you can put it right there" on "Where the Sun Don’t Shine".

J.J. Cale may be grey, grey Cale these days, but his fans are just getting younger, and his quiet influence is all over the place if you look hard enough. But screw it. J.J. really doesn't ever need to explain himself to the music snobs, because it's this simple: he's always made the best late-night shag music for rock fans, and he still does.

Put it on, get it on, and fall asleep with it on, and not much else on. That's what it's made for.