Sketches of Spain

I wanted to like this more than I did. Some good ideas buried under uneven execution.

A mature, confident album that knows exactly what it wants to be. No wasted tracks, no unnecessary detours. It doesn't reinvent the wheel but it polishes it to a brilliant shine. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I've given this the benefit of the doubt across multiple listens over multiple years and my opinion hasn't budged. Overrated, overlong, and overwrought. The good moments are too few and far between to justify the runtime.

The arrangements here are stunning. You can tell real care went into every detail.