Joan Baez's last studio album was a refreshingly brave affair, in which she tackled a batch of interesting contemporary songs. With this new live album, she mostly plays safe. The 1960s folk icon is still in great voice, and is helped by a subtle and sturdy band who sound as if they are trying, but failing, to jolt her into attempting something more adventurous. Three of the songs are taken from that last album, and much of the rest marks a return to comfortable 1960s nostalgia, from Silver Dagger, Jackaroe and Farewell, Angelina through to Joe Hill (which is now dedicated to Michael Moore), and Dylan.
There are only four songs here she has not recorded before, and these range from yet more 1960s revivalism, with the fine and bleak Seven Curses through to Steve Earle's powerful and thoughtful Jerusalem. It's a classy enough set, but needs a few more risks.
