Jackson Browne stays political on Downhill From Everywhere

BY MARIANA GARRICK

Jackson Browne continues to show long-time fans that his career is far from over with his latest album Downhill From Everywhere. After being in the music business since the age of 16, the 72-year-old musician and environmental activist still has the same melancholy but hopeful sound as he reflects on his life. Browne’s voice hasn’t aged a day and he still carries the ability to be transparent about his feelings and connect with listeners in his 15tth studio album that discusses the current political climate, environmental conditions and even his insecurity about staying in the music biz for so long.

The Southern Californian’s most recent album spans almost an hour as it invokes thoughts and reflections on hard-hitting issues that currently consume the news. 2014’s Standing in the Breach shed light on the injustices of greed and destruction, while 2008’s Time the Conqueror was seen as a protest against the U.S. government and their lack of involvement in their own issues, but heavy participation in other countries’ affairs. Browne’s music has always been known to open the door to thoughtful discussions, and this album is no different.

The album opens with “Still Looking For Something,” an easy-going introduction to an album that covers a large range of issues. The song takes listeners back to Browne’s common search for love, or even something greater (“If I don’t find it this time, it’s alright). The next song, “My Cleveland Heart” was the album’s first single and was inspired by a trip he took to the city. From there he discovered that institutions in Cleveland specialize in creating artificial hearts, which he sings about in the song (“They never break, they don’t even beat // And they don’t ache). The repetitive and exciting upbeat chorus reminds fans of his “Somebody’s Baby” era.

“Minutes to Downtown” addresses Browne’s restlessness that’s close to 1986’s “In the Shape of a Heart.” The songs discuss the devastation around love and loss, but in a seemingly optimistic way. “A Human Touch” includes a duet between Browne and Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson. The song has the same somber tone as the one before it, and almost has the same message. The two singers address basic human longing, (“Sometimes all anybody needs is a human touch //Everybody gets lonely”) which is relevant now more than ever due to how isolated society has become in the past year and a half. The track was featured in the 2018 documentary, 5B, a film about the caregivers and nurses who opened the first AIDS ward in the U.S. during the 1980’s AIDS epidemic.

“Love is Love” is another song from the artist that touches on how better days are coming, which is a common theme throughout the entire album. The song was first written in 2016 with David Belle, but later appeared on Let the Rhythm Lead: Haiti Song Summit, Vol. 1, in 2020 from Artists for Peace and Justice. The track’s tropical sound pairs perfectly with his lyrics that praise the little island of Haiti. The album’s title track, “Downhill From Everywhere” slams society for being careless with the environment and its people (“Downhill from the NRA// Downhill from the GOP // Downhill from the ICE // and your huddled masses yearning to be free”). The song is a clear reflection of how he feels about recent government decisions, and he wants the world to know that it’s all downhill from here if we don’t make a change.

“The Dreamer” is a track that consists of lyrics that are nothing like its upbeat tempo. Browne tells the well-known story of an immigrant child who crosses the border who carries, “Nothing more than the dream of what life could be.” After the child crosses the border, the government takes steps to deport her. The song connects with the title track and how he slams society and the government with the lyric, “Today she got the order // They’re taking steps to deport her // To send her back over the border // And tear her away from the life she has made.” ICE recently made media headlines for mass deportations, which the west-coast singer refers to. The album’s closing tracks hint at hope and a call to action with “Until Justice Is Real” and “A Little Soon to Say.” Both songs allude to changing times and the importance of educating ourselves to uncover the truth (“You want the truth, you got to find it on your own // It may not be that easy to see // The truth will cost you in the land of the free”).

Browne has always had a way of telling stories, sharing his experiences, and being transparent enough with his beliefs to always connect with listeners and long-time fans along the way. The album shares a message of hope and joy, while he also makes it clear where he stands politically as he slams certain U.S. institutions. The 72-year-old singer-songwriter has always used his platform to spread awareness on detrimental issues as well as give back to society. With his latest installment, Browne makes it quite clear that he’s not planning on standing down anytime soon.

Jackson Browne is scheduled to play the Oxbow Riverstage in Napa on September 10 and Harveys in South Lake Tahoe the following day.