As I See It Now

Very smart clean vinyl and gloss gatefold cover.

Nine months after Madrugada's commercial failure, Melanie braved the waters again with As I See It Now, a rather limp try at country-folk credibility. "Yankee Man" (originally "Yankee Lady") by Jesse Winchester is spoiled by wincingly cute lyrics, whichever way the pronouns are switched. Melanie's misdirected cover of "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" is an absolute slog to get through -- along with most of As I See It Now, it's ruined by staid production. Listener fatigue sets in well before side two, which is when the album finally picks up. Skip the tooth-rotting "Yes Sir, That's My Baby," and left are three striking Melanie originals; "Autumn Lady," "Chart Song," and the title track. "Chart Song" is an astrology-tinged poem to Melanie's daughter; unsentimental, succinct, and proof of her ongoing melodic knack. It's just a pity there's such a glut of midtempo filler to get through first.