A Beach Full of Shells (2005)
Approaching “A Beach Full of Shells”, I held expectations based on Al Stewart's established strength in consistency. Although the record gets better and better to me with every listen, I can’t help but feel Al is not quite firing on all cylinders. The album's instrumentation is diverse, blending renaissance-like sounds, acoustic folk, and cinematic strings. Al does what only Al can do as he blends completely different musical styles and instruments together to create something very palatable.
The album starts off with “The Immelman Turn.” It exudes a poppy renaissance Americana vibe, featuring prominent strings and fiddle accompaniment. “Mr. Lear” on the other hand is a more standard acoustic folk number, but with a slightly poppy touch. “Royal Courtship” is a more downtempo acoustic track with a nice Spanish guitar accompaniment, offering a more atmospheric experience.
But it isn’t until “Rain Barrel” where things really start to heat up. Crashing in with these cinematic strings, “Rain Barrel” boasts an iconic string riff, creatively blending Middle Eastern or Indian influences with orchestration. (Please forgive me if I am not getting those influences correct). So far the record isn’t off to the strongest of strong starts for an Al Stewart record, but then “Somewhere In England 1915"rolls in. It is the album's pinnacle, combining great energy, Hammond organs, and introspective moments seamlessly. The strings blend with the piano beautifully, and it is easily one of Al’s best tracks of his Post Golden Era, if not his entire career.
The rest of the album has waves of quality. You get a charming acoustic waltz with “Katherine of Oregon" and a gorgeous mid-tempo track filled with ethereal backing harmonies and great instrumentation in “Mona Lisa”. The latter also being one of Al’s finest tracks of his Post Golden Era. Starting as a minimalistic ballad, “Class of ’58” explodes into pure 1950s rockabilly rock 'n' roll, serving as a love letter to the rock music of the ‘50s.
”Walked Out in the Snow" starts off with a chord progression reminiscent of Strawberry Fields Forever. This lyric-focused track sonically pays tribute to the iconic late Beatles track. “My Egyptian Couch" is a nice short song, though I find it somewhat forgettable. But, “Gina” is where the record picks the pace back up. It is an Al Stewart classic-styled track, featuring a driving rhythm acoustic guitar and drums. The bridges boast a great, iconic sounding guitar riff, making it a memorable and foot-tap-inducing piece.
“Beacon Street” is yet another waltz on the album. A bit short, but a nice listen with some mesmerizing guitar playing. Lastly, ”Anniversary" acts as a great album closer, creating a slightly more upbeat 'News From Spain' atmosphere. The wonderful guitar playing and addictive piano chord progressions leave a lasting impression and ends the album on a high note.
With each listen, ‘A Beach Full of Shells’ revealed nuances that deepened my appreciation. The intricate layers of instrumentation and lyrical depth unfolded, creating a richer and more immersive experience over time. Though not as strong or consistent as some of Al Stewart's previous works, ‘A Beach Full of Shells' stands out with its unique blend of musical styles, showcasing the Al’s consistent desire to evolve his music.
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Highlight Songs:
Somewhere In England 1915
Mona Lisa
Rain Barrel
Anniversary
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
As an Al Stewart completist, you definitely want to own it. It might not get as many plays as his other records, but there is a fair amount to love on this album. Over time you’ll enjoy it more and more as I have. If you’re not a completist, for sure Stream it. There are some top quality tracks you won’t want to miss out on!
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Overall Rating:
3.5 Stars
