Randy Newman's second studio album 12 Songs was released in 1970. Unlike his debut, which featured orchestral arrangements, his sophomore album is more rock-oriented but Newman continues utilizing a satirical approach to songwriting, which featured Newman singing from a character's perspective. When it was released, both Rolling Stone Magazine and Robert Christgau gave it highly positive reviews but it was not very commercially successful. It continues to receive high praise as one of Newman's finest albums and was listed as one of the 500 Greatest Albums on Rolling Stones' first two editions of the list.
Although settling into a more recognizable lane of rock music, Newman treads on as one of the most original and unique voices of the kindling singer-songwriter movement. His character-driven lyrics have evolved somewhat but mostly Newman has just refined his ability and this album announces him as a stellar satirist. Mainly, he's so effective because he doesn't takes satire itself too seriously. Balancing out the hard-hitting "Old Kentucky Home" are songs like "Suzanne," about a stalker, which have basically no useful or valuable take-aways--they're just light-hearted, discomforting, and funny. On the musical side of things, Newman assembles a star-studded cast of pro-sessions players to produce a dozen songs that mix roots rock, swing, blues, and country, all my favorites coincidentally. A [Later: A+]
