Words From the Front

Words From The Front has always stuck out as one of Verlaine’s more inscrutable efforts, which is saying something for such an inscrutable artist. He’s working with a new line-up of backing musicians here, and there’s something in the material that lends itself to stretching out; indeed, some of the briefer tracks here feel a little hemmed-in. But “Postcards From Waterloo” is one of Verlaine’s greatest pop songs, and the album’s two epics, the battleground trauma of the title track and the sunblinded mysticism of “Days On The Mountain,” feature some of Verlaine’s most transcendent guitar playing and songwriting.