Company You Keep

By turns philosophical, whimsical, and nakedly confessional, John Gorka's ninth album keeps to fairly safe, well-traveled singer-songwriter terrain but finds a few revelations along the way. Gorka calls in friends Ani DiFranco, Patty Larkin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Lucy Kaplansky, though their contributions are rarely more than light shadings for his unpretentious songs of recovered faith and earned fellowship. If Gorka can't always resist playing the armchair therapist--dispensing advice to himself and others--his self-deprecating humor undercuts any preachiness. "Shape of the World," especially, has a bemusement worthy of John Prine, and the word play of "Wisheries"--"I cast pearls before the parliament / Got some girls for the ex-president"--has a charming, absurd intrigue. Gorka isn't exactly breaking new ground, but he remains one of the most consistently intelligent singer-songwriters working today. --Roy Kasten