Magic Time could serve quite adequately as a primer of Morrison’s influences for a new generation of listeners, should such a thing ever be required. The record touches on everything from the traditional (“Celtic New Year”) to the blues (“Evening Train” and “Carry On Regardless” are real standouts) to his heroes (interpretations of “This Love Of Mine”, “I’m Confessin'” and “Lonely And Blue”) to himself for god’s sake (“The Lion This Time” is a charming sequel to his great “Listen To The Lion” from Saint Dominic’s Preview) and hits everything in between over the course of an hour-long run time. One might expect that by 2005, Van Morrison should have assumed an emeritus status and rested on his not insubstantial laurels, but instead he delivered a delightful collection of fully realized, full-voiced material and doesn’t appear to be in the mood to slow down whatsoever.