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American Standard

by James Taylor

Released: February 28, 2020

Soft rock, folk rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Critical Acclaim.

The Album

"American Standard" is James Taylor's twentieth studio album, released on February 28, 2020, via Fantasy Records. This album features Taylor's interpretations of classic American songs, showcasing standards from the American songbook. Ted Jensen handled the mastering at Sterling Sound in Nashville.

Inside the Recording

The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by Dave O'Donnell, with co-production by John Pizzarelli and Taylor himself.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

Overall, it highlighted Taylor's enduring artistry and ability…

Overall, it highlighted Taylor's enduring artistry and ability to connect with classic material.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

James Taylor - American Standard

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Then

Reception

It was well-received, winning the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. It garnered a score of 60 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews" based on multiple critic assessments. Critical reception for American Standard was generally positive.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"American Standard" is James Taylor's twentieth studio album, released on February 28, 2020, via Fantasy Records. This album features Taylor's interpretations of classic American songs, showcasing standards from the American songbook. It was well-received, winning the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by Dave O'Donnell, with co-production by John Pizzarelli and Taylor himself. Ted Jensen handled the mastering at Sterling Sound in Nashville.

Critical reception for American Standard was generally positive. It garnered a score of 60 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews" based on multiple critic assessments. While some reviews praised Taylor's warm interpretations and smooth vocal delivery, others noted a lack of innovation in the arrangements. Overall, it highlighted Taylor's enduring artistry and ability to connect with classic material.