3.6 - Here's a studio veteran that had a hand in some of the greatest popular music ever recorded. So as might be expected, towards the end of his recording career, he's got a supremely deep bag of studio tricks, he's got access to the finest equipment, and a vast network of sound magicians he can tap at will. But, what might be lacking are new ideas along with the energy to explore new emotional territory. I'm hearing loads of subtle beauty in the studio craft. Each song seems like a masterclass in paring sounds, but there's a yawning melancholy that seems to pervade this record despite its considerable sheen.