Based on his appearance at last weekend's United Palace Theater show in New York City, it seems that Jackson Browne [ tickets ] has discovered his own Fountain Of Youth.

Just a couple of weeks before celebrating his 60th Birthday, and a couple of days shy of the release of his first studio album in six years, it was momentarily unclear what has made the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer look younger than he did just a few months back when he was touring in support of his second acoustic solo project.

It wasn't all the fog and low lighting, that's for sure.

Maybe it's because he's lost the neat gray goatee he sported on the new album cover, or maybe it's because he has turned a corner, producing an album that embraces his chronological advancement instead of a project with material that tries to articulate the benefits of hanging on to one's youth at all costs.

Browne and his crack backing band showcased a number of cuts from that new project, "Time The Conqueror," along with a retrospect of material going all the way back to his debut in 1972. Some may complain that the set list, which Jackson told the crowd barely varies from night to night, is designed to showcase songs he and the band like to do, failed to provide enough classic material.

But it managed to touch on enough of his hits to please a more general audience, like the show opener "Boulevard," as well as "Doctor My Eyes," which flowed nicely into "My Imagination," "The Pretender" and "Running on Empty."

Browne also hit a few of those more sentimental buttons with a beautifully performed "Fountain of Sorrow," and "Barricades of Heaven," a song Browne said was "a song about trying to grow up. In my case, growing up twice."

In addition, Browne chose a trio of songs with stronger political commentary, including one of the night's highpoints, "Lives in the Balance." This cut was not only reworked with a striking break that allowed backup singers Chavonne Morris and Alethea Mills to really shine, but added a new last verse imploring listeners to pray for peace instead of for the souls of those who choose to force us into conflicts and military confrontations.

One of his newest songs, "The Drums of War," proved his talent for scripting protest songs is alive and well, and his encore of "I Am A Patriot," validated the fact that despite his obvious distaste for its current political policies, Browne still very much loves his country and much of what it stands for.

Although his two backup singers enjoyed several moments in the spotlight, Jeff Young did admirable double duty covering all the keyboard parts, as well as additional harmonies on nearly every song. Guitarist Mark Goldenberg laid down an articulate combination of well-integrated leads and rhythm parts, donning a fretless, acoustic, gut-string axe that gave a haunting, indigenous feel to the aforementioned "Lives in the Balance."

Bassist Kevin McCormick was a driving force behind the reggae-flavored "Everywhere I Go," and drummer Mauricio Lewak rounded out the ensemble, turning in nice balanced performance, switching from his big kit at one point to the box drum--giving the crowd a brief chance get a good look at him.

As he wove new material among his established songs, Browne demonstrated that he has produced an album for mature listeners and fans, which could also appeal nicely to newcomers. The title cut sounds like perfect movie-soundtrack fodder, and "Live Nude Cabaret" conjured up imagery of those sad and smoky clubs that Browne describes with intense clarity.

It was good to hear the finished version of "Just Say Yeah," which Browne teased audiences with during his earlier solo tour. He explained that, although he played the first few verses for some time, it wasn't until after his solo tour wrapped up that he wrote the final verse and arrived at the title.

This number attempts to sum up the trials and tribulations of a mature adult trying to take one last stab at falling in love, and ending up discovering that the most lasting love affairs often germinate among true friends.

Another gripe about Browne's current tour found on many Internet messageboards involves his choosing to perform "Culver Moon," from the 1996 album, "Looking East." But, having spent some time in Culver City, CA, the song was another high point in the show for this reviewer.

Browne's introduction of "Culver Moon" was mostly lost on the New York audience, as he described this "city completely surrounded and consumed by the City of Los Angeles." But, again, the imagery and references to MGM Studio, and the 405 Freeway, "Where the ghostly specter of Howard Hughes hovers in the smoke of a thousand barbecues," showed how meticulous and accurate Browne's crafting of even a so-called throw-away album-cut can be.

Browne's current tour continues on this side of the pond through a Nov. 3 finale in Phoenix, where he will presumably not welcome Republican Presidential Candidate and Arizona Senator John McCain, whom Browne is currently suing for using "Running on Empty" in a campaign commercial.

From there, it's off to Japan, Australia and the UK through April where he will bow at the Royal Albert Hall in London on April 13, 2009.

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