Twilight of the Renegades

Production

Twilight of the Renegades was recorded at Sunset Sound, Cherokee Recording, and Calliope Studios in Los Angeles, California, and Right Track, Sound on Sound, and Jimmy Webb Music in New York City.

Release

Twilight of the Renegades was released in the United Kingdom in May 2005 before being released in the United States on August 16, 2005.

Critical response

In his review for AllMusic, William Ruhlmann gave the album a mixed review, welcoming the artist's "ambitious songwriting and arranging that characterized his classic work of the 1960s" while noting that "vocals remain the weak spot in the performing aspect of Webb's career". Ruhlmann continued:

The 12 songs are mostly piano-based ballads, the extended melodies of which will sound familiar to anyone who's heard "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" or "The Highwayman" (in other words, everyone). The song structures tend to be extended, too, often eschewing the conventional verse-chorus patterns of pop. The lyrics are imaginative and touch on surprising subjects, starting with "Paul Gauguin in the South Seas," one of several songs about unusual characters in search of individual happiness, only some of whom succeed in finding it. In this sense, the most touching song must be "Class Clown", which follows a character from the schoolroom through life to the point when Webb concludes his story by repeating, "He's homeless." But there are also touching love songs, notably "Why Do I Have To...", the arrangement for which strongly recalls Burt Bacharach with its single muted trumpet.

While acknowledging that Webb's singing has improved over the years, he "continues to listen to him to hear a composer's individual interpretation of his work, rather than for definitive renditions of the songs". The AllMusic website gave the album four out of five stars.

Track listing

All tracks written by Jimmy Webb.