He has tried everything from cosmic consciousness to earthy R&B - but this is Van Morrison's first country album. And he sounds enlivened, even happy, nestling among the steel guitar and bottomless suffering.  Full text...

While it may not always sound like real country, this disc comes mighty close while always being interesting.   Full text...

While we wait for his next stellar original album, this will keep the music lovers happily occupied.  Full text...

In all, this album stands as a refreshing antidote to the pop rock that currently passes for contemporary country music on the radio. The great irony is that it took a rock-and-roll icon to make it.  Full text...

These are words not often heard, much less contemplated: Van Morrison is going country.  Full text...

The Man may be a genius, but this album is, in a word, perfunctory.   Full text...

Pay The Devil is a collection of mainly covers of country music standards beloved by Morrison, and is the sad sound of a man on auto-pilot.  Full text...