Phil Keaggy

The Song Within

Autumn Records

Grade – B

Keaggy is a creative genius and had I actually paid attention in music appreciation in college, I would probably have something smarter to say about his latest project, “The Song Within.”  It is one of more than 50 albums Keaggy has worked on over a 30-year span and the first on the new label Autumn Records. 

 The album is 16 seamless tracks that exemplify Keaggy’s gift of impressionism and artistic expression.  (There are some smart words for you.) 

All of the songs are played on the McPherson Guitar and there lies my one complaint.  The McPherson name is branded all over the CD packaging.  We know it’s an instrumental and it’s Phil Keaggy, so let the music do the talking.  One simple note that it was played exclusively on the McPherson would have sufficed.  In some ways, the branding makes the project nothing more than a huge promo for the guitar manufacture.  However, there could not be a better guitar spokesperson than Phil Keaggy.  There is probably more to the relationship than an outsider like myself could know, so if Phil was ok with the branding, then why worry about it. 

“The Song Within” is a great instrumental disc that is easy to listen too.  I find it to be great background music for work and around the home.  Between the packaging art and the sounds, you get that autumn feeling.  And as I am fortunate to know first-hand, autumn in the homeland of Autumn Records is a beautiful place to be. 

Ken W.