The brown-eyed, handsome man-child of California's '70s pop-rock scene wrote "These Days" when he was 16, and the rest is era-defining history. Jackson Browne delivers his literate lyrics and memorable melodies with deceptive calm, conveying even the cataclysms of "Before the Deluge" and "Doctor My Eyes" with country-rock cool. Songs like "The Load Out" and "Running On Empty" demystify rock stardom, while "Red Neck Friend" and "I Am a Patriot" do no less for America itself.