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Ralph Recommends

Chris Smither - Leave the Light On (Signature Sounds)

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This is Chris Smither's 12th album in a career that has stretched over two decades. If you're familiar with his work you'll know what to expect. If not then you're in for real treat. For my money no one does country blues like Chris and this is a prefect example of the man at his very best. So laid back he sounds like he's actually lying down most of the time he consistantly plucks the kind of smart little riffs from his trusty acoustic guitar that most players would kill for. He's much more than just a hyper cool country blues musician though. On tracks like Origin Of Species he shows his taste for smart and witty lyrics too and any man who's got the nerve to take on Dylan's epic Visions Of Johanna as a waltz in 6/8 time is certainly not lacking in confidence either. Other stand out tracks like Open Up show that Chris continues to do it his own way and while he may never set the world alight commercially speaking he can be proud that his work just sounds better with every single passing year.

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Dwight Yoakam - Guitars, Cadillacs Reissue (Rhino Records)

I love this album and think you will too. Born in the outskirts of Houston some twenty odd years ago this guy grew up idolising writers like Willie Nelson and Steve Earle and that rough and ready vibe so beloved of those artists can be found in every track on his superb second album. He can count among his admirers Buddy Miller and Ray Wylie Hubbard and it鈥檚 easy to see why. His songs range from the hoedown friendly rocker Down The Road Tonight to a heartfelt ode to his nearest and dearest Good Friends. The song writing is crisp and descriptive throughout and his impassioned vocals on tracks like Take Me Away recall the aforementioned Mr Earle at his very best. It鈥檚 not exaggeration to say that I found myself thinking of Guitar Town or even Copperhead Road when I listened to this album and coming from a devout Earle believer like me that鈥檚 praise indeed. Ray Wylie Hubbard himself even duets on the final track on the album Chickens and the result is so good it leaves you hankering for more right away.

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Ralph also recommends...
Patti Griffin - The Impossible Dream (Proper Records)
Dwight Yoakam - Blame The Vain (New West Records)
Willie Nelson - Countryman (Lost Highway)
John Prine - Fair and Square (Oh Boy Records)
Mary Gauthier - Mercy Now (Lost Highway)
The Mavericks - Live in Austin (Texas Sanctuary Records)
Willy Nelson - It Always Will Be (Lost Highway)

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