Forever Hasn't Happened Yet

• Artist: John Doe
• Rating:
• Release Date: March 22, 2005
• Genre: Rock

Review

Since John Doe left active duty with X, he's released a series of solo albums that, in a variety of different ways, have drawn many listeners to the same conclusion -- he's still a superb singer and a strong songwriter, but there's just something missing from his work on his own, which lacks the force and resonance of his music with X. It isn't necessarily tied to the fact that he doesn't rock as hard, given how powerful his work was with X's acoustic side project, the Knitters, and it shouldn't be a matter of not having good collaborators, as Doe's 2005 solo set, Forever Hasn't Happened Yet, boasts an impressive set of talented guests. Longtime colleague Dave Alvin adds guitar and vocals to three cuts, Neko Case contributes a strong and sexy backing vocal on "Hwy. 5" (co-written with Exene Cervenka, and not coincidentally the most X-like song on board), Grant Lee Phillips lends splendid harmonies to "Twin Brother," the criminally underappreciated Cindy Lee Berryhill shines on two songs, and Kristin Hersh sounds like a force of nature on "Ready." Doe himself sings beautifully throughout, and there are a few top-shelf songs here, especially the evocative "Twin Brother," the graceful "Your Parade," and the bitter charge through "Ready." But ultimately, too much of Forever Hasn't Happened Yet is made up of songs that don't quite hit their target, either musically or emotionally; it's full of fine moments, but doesn't cohere into a solid whole, though most of it is good enough to keep hope alive that Doe will bat 1.000 next time he heads into the studio. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Losing Kind	John Doe	Dave Alvin, John Doe	(2:33)
Heartless	John Doe	Dave Alvin, John Doe, Grant Lee Phillips, Tree	(2:28)
Mama Don't	John Doe	Dave Alvin, John Doe, Veronica Jane	(2:47)
Twin Brother	John Doe	John Doe, Grant Lee Phillips	(3:43)
Hwy 5	Exene Cervenka, John Doe	John Doe, Neko Case	(2:52)
Worried Brow	John Doe	John Doe	(3:07)
Your Parade	John Doe, Evan Stone, David J. Carpenter, Gregory Page	Cindy Lee Berryhill, John Doe	(2:28)
There's a Black Horse	John Doe	John Doe, Smokey Hormel	(2:21)
Ready	John Doe	John Doe, Kristin Hersh	(2:59)
She's Not	John Doe	John Doe	(2:22)
Repeat Performance	John Doe	Cindy Lee Berryhill, John Doe	(3:25)

Credits

Alan Yoshida (Mastering), Veronica Jane (Vocals), Dave Way (Audio Engineer), Stuart Johnson (Drums), Grant Lee Phillips (Guitar), Neko Case (Vocals), John Doe (Vocals), Dave Alvin (Guitar), John Doe (Guitar), Jamie Muhoberac (Organ), Kristin Hersh (Producer), Dave Way (Tambourine), Smokey Hormel (Guitar), Stuart Johnson (Percussion), David J. Carpenter (Bass (Electric)), Jamie Muhoberac (Melodica), Dave Way (Strings), D.J. Bonebrake (Vibraphone), David J. Carpenter (Double Bass), Dave Way (Mixing), John Doe (Guitar (Acoustic)), Dave Way (Audio Production), Cindy Lee Berryhill (Vocals), Kristin Hersh (Vocals), Dave Way (Producer), John Doe (Producer), Neil Kellerhouse (Design), David J. Carpenter (Guitar (Bass)), David J. Carpenter (String Bass), John Doe (Guitar (Electric)), Jim Herrington (Photography), Jamie Muhoberac (Piano), John Doe (Slide Guitar), Grant Lee Phillips (Vocals), Dave Way (Engineer), John Doe (Audio Production)