Ry Cooder understands that a great song is a great song, whether it was written before the Depression or last week. Still, at the same time he isnt afraid to explore new avenues & possibilities for the material. Like his three previous records, Paradise & Lunch is filled with treasures which become part of a world where eras & styles converge without ever sounding forced or contrived. One may think that an album that contains a traditional railroad song, tunes by assorted blues greats, an