Folk-pop Forever

Artist: Yusuf Islam
Album: “Roadsinger”

Chris Martin and Joe Satriani should watch their backs, and intellectual property rights. Once again, the one-time British regent singer-songwriter of emotive pop ballads, Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens), is re-asserting his rightful claim to the throne.

Recently, legendary Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist Joe Satriani filed a copyright infringement suit against Coldplay, claiming that their hit “Viva la Vida” rips off his 2004 song “If I Could Fly.”

But, Islam has also said “Vida” plagiarizes his song “Foreigner Suite” from much earlier, 1973.

One thing is certain: Islam is back in the news, and just in time for his new album, “Roadsinger.”

Islam’s brilliant, shining voice has matured since his heyday in the late ’60s and ’70s, aging like an audible fine wine rather than rotting away like Bob Dylan’s toasty, burnt cackle.

After his highly publicized spiritual journey and conversion to the Islamic faith, Islam’s soft songs dote on the sweeter aspects of life. In “Thinking ’Bout You,” Islam chronicles the effortless beauty of a divinely inspired natural world, “Every little bird above the haze / And fish beneath the waves / Knows about you / Wouldn’t they do.”

By including this healthy dose of Christian imagery and symbolism, Islam allays weary listeners’ fears of his supposed “terrorist” activities that were associated with his denial of entrance to the United States in 2004.

With “Roadsinger,” Islam provides what he became famous for: soft, sweet pop songs backed by simple, catchy guitar strumming and functional instrumentals.

In his eponymous track, Islam asks all the right questions: “Where do you go/ where do you go/ in a world filled with fright?”

Like a faithful parent and guardian, Islam maintains his caring, fatherly image and imparts a nice album filled with precise songs, but none too special.

As such, folk-pop music can rejoice with a refreshing breath of “Roadsinger,” while it chokes down the over-produced, trashy acts found in the Billboard Top 40.