the Top 10 Folk / Country Albums of 2024

For some time I've combined country and folk music into this list since they are on the fringe of what is normally reviewed here. The two genres have a great deal of stylistic overlap since pop country is not my thing, and I like folk music that is darker and more melancholy. These albums do not really give a damn about the Nashville status quo even when it comes to the artists in the more commercial spotlight. These are not the coolest albums, but the best, fuck what other blogs say. 

 After I sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of 2024 list. The very fact that these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album; there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day, what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list. I've included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 country and folk albums of 2024

10-Hovvdy-"s/t" 

If Justin Vernon had grown up in a trailer park listening to country music, Bon Iver might have sounded like this. The twang is subtle, meaning if they were trying to be country, it would be more upfront, as that is the act they are putting up. It's detectable, but I think they are trying to make indie pop, but that is what comes out. It's not pop country though I think they recorded this in an actual studio and not their bedroom, like the sometimes lo-fi Soundcloud quality tries to emulate. Though this is their 5th full-length album they have taken enough trips into the studio to settle into their skin.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/12/hovvdy-st.html

9-the Death South - "Chains & Stakes" 

One of the best modern bluegrass quartets is back with a collection of songs that finds them moving back in a darker direction. They move back in the direction of Murder Ballads. They remained consistent in what they do which is already pretty great so that works for this album.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-dead-south-chains-stakes.html

8- 49 Winchester -"Leaving This Holler" 

This Virginia-based band plays a traditional style of country, that is a little more upbeat than what I normally listen to, but it's well done. All the instrumentation fits in the lush mix. Lyrically the outlook is pretty bright, making up home that the drink it up songs go south so I can hear songs about alcoholism. At the end of the day the great guitar playing and singing won me over . 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/49-winchester-leavin-this-holler.html

 

7-the Decemberists -" As it Ever Was, So it Will Be Again"  

The songwriting has been streamlined, and though they get really progged out on the last song, the album is typically an eclectic mix of bard-like folk. as they dip their toes into styles, sometimes taking you back to the 70s as flutes wander around. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-decemberists-as-it-ever-was-so-it.html

         

  

6-Amigo the Devil -"Yours's Until the War is Over" 

Danny has been playing big rock festivals for a few summers now, and we are beginning to hear how that is influencing him. There is more of an edge here. There are depressing songs that ponder suicide, and by and large, this album is a continuation of the Murder Ballad theme that has driven the bulk of his music. He colors these with different influences, like the touch of Tom Waits which can be felt at times.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/amigo-devil-yours-until-war-is-over.html

5-Faye Webster -"Undressed at the Symphony" 

She could have also crossed over into the top 10 pop albums list that I have yet to finish, but if this was Joni Mitchell doing the exact same songs it would be folk so, here we are. In the 70s there was a genre called adult contemporary. It was the kind of organic loungy music that was not the bubble gum of pop but found artists in the middle of country and jazz. There was none of the country twang, nor the complex excursions in jamming that jazz ventures off into. More produced than folk;, but many former folk artists would cross over into this for radio play. Mellow is certainly a fitting word to describe it. There are no aspirations to induce dancing. This is what Webster's music invokes.

4-Waxahatchee- "Tigers Blood" 

 This album took some time to sink in. Katie Crutchfield is more of a country singer than not. Sure she is soulful. But there is an honest twang that offsets most of her indie sensibility. She has certainly settled into her skin as an artist. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/03/waxahatchee-tigers-blood.html

 

3-Kacey Musgraves -"Deeper Well" 

This is the singer's 6th album. Funny enough the title track is about how she quit smoking pot, but it sounds like still was hitting the bong when she wrote the opening track. It has a 60s ambiance to it. The title track also carries more atmosphere than what you might expect from a country musician who is not smoking pot. From her past work, I would never have taken her as a pot smoker, so it's funny that the album she is not smoking sounds like the one she's smoking the most on. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/08/kacey-musgraves-deeper-well.html

      

2-Johnny Blue Skies- "Passage Du Dasir" 

Not sure why Sturgill Simpson needs an alter ago as this is more country than some of the albums he's released under his name. Strong guitar playing throughout, sometimes it's touched with a bit of 70s soul, and sometimes he jams closer to what Pink Floyd does. His voice sounds great and it's another testament to his songwriting, where else are you going to hear country songs about fairies? 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/johnny-blue-skies-passage-du-desir.html

1-Chelsea Wolfe -"Unbound" 

 If She said the versions of these songs found on this EP were how they were originally written, before being re-mixed into what was presented on "She Reaches Out to, She Reaches Out to..." it would make perfect sense as this sounds more like who she is. This is emotionally powerful and feels like  true expression of who she is. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/chelsea-wolfe-unbound.html

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July's Top 10 Albums

It's time for July's top 10 albums. Staying abreast on the month's highlights might help casual readers see what they missed and check these artists out. I am not doing little blurbs on them, just linking the reviews. I'll use this to organize my lists for the end of the year, by listing the genre of music the album falls under. This does not mean that these albums have been released this month, but it is a list of new or upcoming albums I have enjoyed the most, I have albums in my in-box that are not coming out til October so I am normally way ahead of the curve in this regard. They are ranked in order of what I have listened to the most. This month there is a wide variety from Country to Black Metal so you may find your new favorite among them. Here are the Top 10 albums for July 2024.

10-the Decemberists -"As it Ever Was, So it Will Be Again"  

Indie Folk

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-decemberists-as-it-ever-was-so-it.html

9-Abrams - "Blue City" 

Grunge 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/abrams-blue-city.html

8-Hell is Other People - "Moirae" 

Black Metal 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/hell-is-other-people-moirae.html

7-the Raveonettes - "The Raveonettes Sing…"

Garage Rock

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/the-raveonettes-raveonettes-sing.html

6-Svoid-"Neptunian" 

Black Metal

 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/svoid-neptunian.html

5- SeeYouSpaceCowboy -"Coup De Gr​á​ce" 

Experimental Pop Punk

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/seeyouspacecowboy-coup-de-grace.html

4-Johnny Blue Skies ( Sturgill Simpson) - "Passage Du Desir" 

Country

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/johnny-blue-skies-passage-du-desir.html

3-Softcult- "Heaven" 

Dream-pop 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/softcult-heaven.html

2-Crypt Sermon- "The Stygian Rose" 

Metal 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/crypt-sermon-stygian-rose.html

1-Iress - "Sleep now In Reverse" 

Doom-gaze

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/iress-sleep-now-in-reverse.html

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Johnny Blue Skies : "Passage Du Desir"

 Sturgill Simpson by any other name.  His alter ego is making music with a marginally more gospel feel, but not that far from what he normally does to justify this new moniker, but these are the thoughts I have midway into the first song, maybe the album is going to take a dramatic turn. The first hint of this more 70s-flavored r&b turn can be heard in"If the Sun Never Rises Again". He is singing slightly higher than his normal mellow baritone, and the guitar playing feels like something Prince might have done if he was jamming on the blues. 

"Scotter Blues" is exactly what it claims to be, as he wanders off into an upbeat blues jam, He is more thoughtful on "Jupiters Faerie"  which is an emotive ballad, that eventually builds up into a bong-laden take on 70s pop. I think there are some interesting choices made when it comes to putting effects on his voice here. "Who I am" finds him back in the saddle of country music. He gets into a more Fleetwood Mac mode for "Right Kind of Dream". The guitar is palm-muted in its grooving shuffle, which drifts into the atmosphere.  I like the effects on his voice here. 

"Mint Tea" might as well be a Lynyrd Skynrd song. It embraces his countryside more than most of this album, though once again worth stating nothing is really that far outside of his wheelhouse. It is more guitar-focused more often than not, and full of great guitar playing. "One For the Road" closes the album. It is strummed and more accessible than some of the songs, though I would not say it's poppy though I hear it finding its way to country radio. His honest vocal melodies dominate this one. The song does get jammed out into a country take on Pink Floyd which is pretty cool.   I will give this one a 9.5, and see how it grows on, me the songs are really strong so there is no reason for it not to grow into a 10. 

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The 420 Playlist

Before you start this day off with same boring old tunes all the bong worshippers today will be, ya know the ones, Bob Marley, Cypress Hill , Pepper  and the mix of jams bands the jeep driving masses will be playing today here is a mix of classics with a wider range of sonic colors, a sprinkle of electronic music, metal, rock and country with a haze of the mind altered weirdness  , sp here you go smoke'em if you got em.

Sublime- "Smoke Two Joints"

   

 Shpongle - "Dorset Perception" 

   

 the Butthole Surfers- "Sweat Loaf"

 

Sleep- "Dope Smoker"

   

 Queens of the Stone Age- "Feel Good Hit of the Summer"

   

 Blind Melon- "Galaxie"

   

 Placebo- "Pure Morning"

   

 Fistula- "Too Many Devils and Drugs"

   

 Lords of Acid- " Marijuana in Your Brain"

   

 Sturgill Simpson- " Turtles All the Way Down"

 

the Top 10 Folk & Country Albums of 2020

Feeling depressed? Need a soundtrack to sitting outside by yourself ? This year's current crop of folk albums provided that. As with years past I sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year. As far as 2020 goes for folk and country  there were artists perhaps new to this blog, but not much in the way of new artists debuting anything note worthy enough to make the list. The  fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No I do not care what you think about it .I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 folk and country albums of 2020

10-Myrkur- "Folksange" 

 This is almost more of an honorable mention. Gone were all trapping of her black metal past. I mean she was half way there on her previous album, this one just finds her all in with a  more Northern European style of folk. She is better at it than most.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/myrkur-folksange.html 

 

9- Ataraxia- "Quasar" 

 Nothing short of spell binding. It's a blend of folk with a fey like atmosphere not unlike the Cocteau Twins. Their lead singer's voice is almost operatic. This album I could leave on and let play.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/08/ataraxia-quasar.html

 

8-King Dude- "Full Virgo Moon" 

He goes in a more introspective , almost Death In June like realm of atmospheric folk that is more introspective than this flirtations with a darker post punk sound. It shows another side of his voice that I like. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/king-dude-full-virgo-moon.html

7-Brendan Perry - "Songs of Disenchantment" 

This is not Dead Can Dance, but I will always take a solo album from him. He went wit ha selection of underground Greek folk songs . This turned out to be much more gangsta than anticipated. All the songs are about smoking drugs , women and running from the cops. At 61 he is still going hard. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/12/brendan-perry-songs-of-disenchantment.html

 

6-Sturgill Simpson- "Cutting Grass"

 Simpson worked some of his songs into bluegrass versions , that makes them feel almost like new songs all together. This shows he is the real deal country , so if "Sound & Fury" was your jam then , this might not be for you as the pickin and grinnin is legit here.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/12/sturgill-simpson-cutting-grass.html 

 


5-Mark Lanegan- "Songs of Sorrow"

Another solo effort from the former Screaming Trees front man. Not rock enough to be grunge, but more rock than most other folk albums put out this year as he still has a rock n roll soul. An unmistakable voice , fans of any of his other endeavors should make sure not to miss out on this one.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/04/mark-lanegan-straight-songs-of-sorrow.html

 

4- AA Williams- " Forever Blue"

More melancholy than other singers she fell behind. More atmospheric than her peers , she is not content with just putting out a folk album and follows in the foots steps of artists like Chelsea Wolfe by even weaving in elements of metal. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/aa-williams-forever-blue.html

3-Chris Stapleton- 'Starting Over" 

Not the best album of his career . He begins to settle into a more tried and true formula and shows' off his pipes less. With that said even when he dials it in Chris is able to put out an album that most still can not come close to and continues to dominate country music. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/11/chris-stapleton-starting-over.html

2-Phobe Bridgers- "Punisher"   

She goes beyond the sonic spectrum of conventional folk, but has dressed it up in gorgeous melancholy. Her voice is fragile , but drips with honest beauty. It was a real close call between this and the number one album.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/phoebe-bridgers-punisher.html

1-Waxahatchee- "Saint Cloud" 

This album is in the running for album of the year. She has a unique that she throws around with a great deal of feeling. Her song writing is far beyond the bounds of being just amazing in terms of how she weaves melodies together. Infectious but something to say. Story telling that is left open for you to relate to . She can do not wrong here.  

-

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/waxahatchee-saint-cloud.html

Sturgill Simpson : "Cutting Grass"

You might think this is a greatest. It's not really , it is kind of a compilations. He has recorded bluegrass versions of songs from his catalog . I think most of these are such a different spin that this is close enough to new songs in book. Since it is my fucking blog I am going to say it is since I make the rules here .He is releasing 20 songs, so there is a margin for error. The opening song is particularly strong. "Breakers Roar" works really well too. The picking an grinning is top notch. The fiddling , banjo and guitar is all top notch playing.  Songs like " I Don't Mind" are well done , but do not grab me on the first listen. I do like the lyrics to it as they are kind of bleak. 

"Just Let Go" is like self help blue grass , more than the kind of drinking behind the barn stuff you might expect. The song works even if dynamically a lot of these songs are being to play to the tropes and sound the same. " Life Ain't Fair, and the World is Mean" is more up beat. Lyrically it talks about those tropes I just brought up, If you got into Simpson by way of "Sound & Fury" this might not be the album for you. It has all the traditional twang  that comes with this style of music. There is a southern gospel feel to "A Little Light"  "Life of Sin" is more interesting lyrically. It is still almost too happy for me musically despite the unnerved topic. "Long White Line" plays it safer and it blends in with the general tone of the album.  As a song " Living the Dream' works a little better . ""Old King Coal" is one of the album's best song with a weary working man's feel. 

When he builds up speed it is due to banjo and fiddle. "Railroad of Sin" is an example of this, but the vocals make the song work. "Sometimes Wine" is an obligatory drinking song. The faster bluegrass is not my favorite flavor but on "the Storm" he makes it work again. I do prefer what he does on "Time After All" which is more country. I prefer the original version of  "Turtles All the Way Down", it is such a good song it works any way you spin it. "Voices' proves that less is more , and he needs he room to breathe. " Water In a Well" almost has too much room, as it's a sleepy ballad like take on country.  I will give this a 9 as he is good as what he does , I think what happens with " Turtles All the Way Down" says it in regards to my relationship with his music. But as far as country music goes today he is one of the best. 

the Top 10 Rock Albums of 2019

It's that time of year again, to sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, then use them, to compile the top 10 albums of the year. Later in the month I am making the top 10 lists for the decade, though to be blunt this is the decade's weakest year for music; Especially when it comes to new artists. There are only 3 on this one. This year's rock list finds the genre stripped down to a rawer core.  I am; giving a brief explanation as to why these albums stand over their peers in lower positions on the list. The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more.


After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No, I do not care what you think about it.;I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list. There are links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 rock albums of 2019.
>

10- Ville Vallo and Agents- "s/t" 

Yes this is the guy from H.I.M, they covered Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" so this turn of events should not be a shocker. Imagine if they never got into Type O Negative , and wanted to become a Chris Isaak tribute band, but he realized he could not sing like that so he got depressed and took pain pills while writing country songs. This is what that might sound like.


https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/03/ville-valo-agents-st.html

9-Jess By the Lake- "Under the Red Light Shine"


The sultry tinge of blues feels more like she has found herself in her voice than what I heard from her with the Ancient Ones. She I say there is a lot of Heart in what they are doing here I mean Anne Wilson. This retro rock is served with a large enough side of pop to give it the edge over Ville.




https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/04/jess-by-lake-under-red-light-shine.html

8-the Planchettes- "The Truth"

 These kids might flirt with the post-punk revival and they are one of the few I have heard influenced by the Cramps. The male vocals are really crazed at times, . The guitar tone is pretty authentic. It's more of a twangy cow punk. They are not tense nor are they angry which plants them firmly at rock n roll. Their quirky take on it is enough fun to land them the number 8 spot.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-planchettes-truth.html

7- Hollywood Vampires- "Rise" 

First impressions of this band being here is what happens on A.A golf events in LA when rock stars and movie stars have too much time on their hands. Despite the fact I am an Alice Cooper fan and know Jo Perry is good guitar player I was till skeptical so was surprised with how the album opened with a rock song that is more serious than I thought I could take this band. It is hard for this to not sound like an Alice Cooper album and I am fine with that so here it is at the number 7 slot.


https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/06/hollywood-vampires-rise.html

6-Lost Crowns- "Every Night Something Happens" 


This sounds like it could have come out in the 70S. Angular labyrinths of melodies give the bass the space to most of the grit. While it is not dark there are some shades of gray coloring it and I would not say it is happy. Ambitious and British yet this does not get in the way of this band remembering to write songs, planting them here on the list.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/05/lost-crowns-every-night-something.html

5-Brian Jonestown Massacre- 's/t"


 If you don't know who these guys are then this is Anton Newcombe from the Dandy Warhols. There is a moody almost post-rock feel to the strummed guitar. Anton makes up for what he lacks in vocal prowess with attitude. The arrangements are fairly simplistic rock n roll, darker than the Rolling Stones, but also less dangerous. Mick Jagger is never this depressed. Rather than go on any long winding roads the songs jam off a singular vibe, but it is hooky enough to land them the 5 spot here.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-brian-jonestown-massacre-st.html

4-Twin Temple- "Twin Temple Brings You Their Signature Sound"

 When we talk of rock here we are talking more about the 50as. Despite their allegiances to the SJW knock off of his church this recalls an era Lavey would approve of. If Amy Winehouse devil there might be a similar result though this does has more raw power musically to avoid the pop list. They are not doing this in the kind of goofy fashion Ghost. The hooks put them at fourth place.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/10/gothtober-twin-temple-twin-temple-bring.html

3- Starcrawler- "Devour You" 



Here is what happens when you grow up in Hollywood and get exposed to more than you should at a young age. This album could have made the punk list if not for it's grunge tendencies that sounds like a more inspired Courtney Love from the early Hole days. It's the realness of her swagger that infects these and gives her the number 3 spot, rock n roll is an attitude that all 3 of the bands in the top spots have


. https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/10/starcrawler-devour-you.html

2-Alice Cooper-Breadcrumbs

Hanging out with vampires in Hollywood must have turned back the clock to him. This raw album of garage rock cover from Detroit could have almost just as easily made it on the punk album. Way more energy than you could have ever imagined coming off the gold course at 70.


https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/09/alice-cooper-breadcrumbs.html

1- Sturgill  Simpson - "Sound & Fury"


 If you think this is just a country album you are wrong. It owes as much to ZZ Top as it does Pink Floyd. The vocals are really the only thing that is constantly country. The drums might sound like they are from 90s Alt Rock radio before you are hit with a  funky bass line from out of nowhere. Futuristic and retro at the same time, the songwriting is the glue and it puts these songs at the top of the list.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/10/sturgill-simpson-sound-fury.html

Mix Tape Mania 2019

It's NANOWRIMO time which is extra crazy. Took a break to make this. I made sure all of the songs from this edition came out this year. No old stuff, only new. These were songs that were my fall soudtrack so kinda of music to the moods of the past 3 months. In nor particular order I am however OCD so the first song has to be the first song from it's respective album, the second song the second song from it's respective album you can see where this is going without me going through all ten songs. Listening back to some of these songs and then hunting down the lyrics to say the HEALTH song , it's like woah, that what he is saying, or the Bon Iver song which I took to mean something totally different than the odd political undertones, since I normally hate political music. I mean politics are fake and boring as it is let me hear about your mental break downs, if they are because of politics then you need to get a grip . I prefer to hear emotional expressions since it's easiest for me to process my emotions through music since it provides a very safe and controlled environment to do so. Anyways here you go some of the best songs from 2019.     




Benjamin Tod - "Sorry For the Things"




Bon Iver -"we"



 Lana Del Ray- "Fuck it I Love You"




 Taylor Swift - "the Archer"




Health- "Loss Deluxe"





Sturgill Simpson - Make Art Not Friends




Orville Peck -Kansas

 

GOLD - "Lack Of Skill"





Brutus - " Space"

Chelsea Wolfe _ " a Preface to Dream Play"

Sturgill Simpson :"Sound & Fury"

The universe finally aligned me with this album. Truth be told I have sat on this for a minute before reviewing it. I downloaded the movie "the Dead Won't Die" at the same time this got on my radar. Simpson has the title track of that soundtrack and there is a movie that also goes with this album, but that is a lot of moving parts so I am going to stick with the music on this album. If you think this is just a country album you are wrong. It opens with a song that sounds like ZZ Top jamming with Pink Floyd. This is a vibe that reoccurs. The vocals are really the only thing that is constantly country. The drums might sound like they are from 90s Alt Rock radio and give a song like "Remember to Breathe" a Billy Squier like feel. This carries over into the more uptempo "Sing Along" .  80's pop ZZ Top is also a fair comparison. A funky bass line propels the brisk "A Good Look".

The 80s pop thing return, with a smooth vocal on " Make Art Not Friends" .  The guitar tone could have been lifted from a Cars album. There are more synths on this album than I expected. The guitar riff are pretty powerful to compliment the belted vocals. Even with this "Best Clocker Maker on Mars" does not have the same magic the first half of the album does.It returns for the more country "All Said and Done". Old school cow punk is the driving force behind "Last Man Standing". I am not sure this is his strongest side, though it does not suck by any means. "Mercury in Retrograde"carries pop quirk to it much like the rest of the album. The lyrics are perhaps some of the album's best as they are smart and have a geeky new age charm. He does not do anything vastly difference here, but what he is doing is working .

In some ways the same can be said for "Fastest Horse in Town", but here I get curious as to what they actually songwriting process was . It sounds like this was a country Song that he went back and recorded rock over. Not complaining just wondering, to the point it makes me want to hunt down his PR people and interview him. I will give this album a 10 . The moments that are knocked out of the park are balanced out by the really mind blowing ones.