Time Together

Released in 2011, Time Together represents a significant milestone in Michael Franks' career as his first release on an independent label, Shanachie Records. This shift allowed for a more personal, less commercially pressured approach to his songwriting, resulting in what many critics consider his most consistent work of the 21st century. The album features a rotating cast of high-caliber jazz producers including Chuck Loeb and Gil Goldstein, ensuring a varied but cohesive sonic palette that spans from light Latin jazz to intimate piano ballads. Lyrically, Franks remains one of the most literate songwriters in the genre, weaving references to classic cinema and literature into songs that explore themes of aging, nature, and domestic tranquility. The track 'Now That the Summer's Here' was particularly noted by critics for its revitalized energy, while the eight-minute closer 'Feathers From an Angel's Wings' showcases a more expansive, spiritual side of his artistry. It stands as a definitive late-career statement of peace and artistic maturity.