Chip Taylor reviewed

CHIP TAYLOR New Songs of Freedom  Train Wreck Records ***

Chip Taylor is a remarkable artist and man - and that's not even mentioning his connections (brother to Jon Voight, uncle to Angelina Jolie) or his Brill Building songwriting credits ( Wild Thingand Angel of the Morning). One of the original vanguard of the progressive country movement, Taylor gave it all up to become a successful full- time gambler. And then he turned back to music, albeit on his own terms, and it is as a maverick leftish singer-songwriter that he is now known. This mini-album is a collection of old and new songs, including three from Taylor's stirring Black and Blue Americathat was binned after 9/11, presumably because of its questioning stance. There is also a fine song about Laotian "US" soldiers still fighting in the jungle for freedom. Thoughtful, provocative, incisive, Taylor picks at the conscience of his native land - although the drawn-out The Making of Dance with a Hole in Your Shoewears somewhat.  www.trainwreckrecords.com JOE BREEN