Chris Hillman was the George Harrison of The Byrds. The youngest, quietest and most impressionable member of the group, his talent flowered late.
But his contribution to the growth of alternative country music - notably with Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers - was immense. At 60, his gentle, understated voice and his ear for a melody remain as strong as ever. He starts with a stunning version of The Byrds' psychedelic classic Eight Miles High, which stands comparison with the original even without Roger McGuinn's trademark 12-string Rickenbacker. Others highlights of an enjoyable and occasionally brilliant album are Drifting, Touch Me and The Water Is Wide, a haunting duet with Jennifer Warnes. The Other Side, shot through with religious imagery, suggests that Hillman's searching soul has found peace at last.
Updated: 10:49 Thursday, July 07, 2005
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