The light at the end of the line

"The Light At The End Of The Line is Janis Ian's first album in 15 years; she has also announced that it's her last solo release. As such, there's a strong reflective tone and references to pivotal earlier songs and experiences ... It's unquestionably her finest work in the 47 years since [Between The Lines] and, if it is indeed her recorded swan song, she bows out on an unequivocal high".

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"[Ian's] claim that the new The Light at the End of the Line is "the best album I've ever made" is no small boast. It may be true, though. Ian's voice has lost none of its subtlety and strength, and neither has her songwriting on this entirely self-penned album, her first collection of fresh material since 2006's Folk Is the New Black. Highlights abound, including I'm Still Standing, which deals with aging; Nina, where Ian sings about Nina Simone while accompanying herself on piano; the evocative, jazzy Summer In New York; and the hopeful seven-and-a-half-minute album closer, Better Times Will Come, which begins nearly a cappella, then blossoms into an ensemble piece that features saxophones, trombone, banjo, clarinet, Celtic harp, and more".

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