Tony Furtado - Thirteen

Tony Furtado hardly has to prove himself as a guitar player these days. On this, his second album as a singer/songwriter (his 13th album ever), however, Furtado allays any fears his skills as a singer/songwriter are anything but outstanding. Every single song is excellent, be it an original like "Stay Awhile" or an Elton John Cover. Furtado's performance of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" will not be soon forgotten, nor will his love songs to women ("I Wait For This") and vice ("The Alcohol").

It's in the Numbers

Furtado chose to dedicate this album to good luck and bad luck, exclaiming in the liner notes, "Be gone triskaidekaphobia (fear of thirteen)!" Indeed, he broke whatever curse the "bad luck" number could have by making sure the thirteenth record of his career was impeccable. Even down to the album's dedication, Furtado nails each detail. The title track sings of the good luck of the one surviving miner out of 13 who were trapped underground in West Virginia, focusing on the luck of that 13th man.

This is soon followed by "Sevens," a song named for what is typically regarded as the luckiest number.

Good Luck v. Bad Luck

Luck plays a big role on Thirteen, as all the characters of Furtado's heart-wrenching love songs and political protests have experienced their fair share of bad luck. But as he states in the liner notes, what is often considered back luck can just as easily be construed as good luck. Even the narrator in "Another Man" knows somewhere deep down that he's better off without his lying, cheating woman.

With John Fogerty's classic "Fortunate Son," the focus is on the ill fatedness of those born with "good luck." Furtado does this classic rock tune an incredible amount of justice, and places it smartly between two beautiful compositions of his own. "I Wait For This" is possibly one of the most brilliant moments on the record. As love songs go, it covers everything that trails along with love—from disappointment to patience and understanding—with such simple honesty.

"The Alcohol," conversely, is explained well with Furtado's remark, "I was living in LA and reading lots of Bukowski when I started this song." With a touching, catchy melody, "The Alcohol" comes off like a seriously heartfelt love song.

The Bottom Line

Considering it's only his second album of songs with lyrics, Thirteen is a remarkable effort. From start to finish, there's little that's left out, and even less left to luck. Furtado's command of his instrument goes without saying, and with this latest effort, he makes an indelible mark as a lyricist, as well.

Highlights

California Flood

Won't Get Fooled Again

Sevens

I Wait For This

The Alcohol

Take Me to the Pilot