This album, Chuck's fourth, takes up the reins from where his last album, the excellent 'Radio' left off, and continues his sharp and personal look at American life.
Chuck's writing is full of wit and honesty - often likened to Dylan and Prine (especially similar to Dylan in vocal delivery), he moves between razor sharp humour, social commentary and tenderness with ease.
There are many highlights on the disc, almost every tack could be singled out - there are two frank political anecdotes 'Boys in the Backroom' and 'He Came to Our Town', both brilliant commentaries on different aspects of politics. But it's the fantastic 'Bonehead Merkle' that steals the show, a tale of a famous baseball game in 1908 and the fortunes of the characters involved. This song has everything - great melody, likeable characters, emotion, and a twist at the end; contemporary folk at it's very best.
Musically, country tinged folk-rock seems the best, albeit clumsy description, but however you describe it, it's of the highest quality and a hugely enjoyable from start to finish.
In any other mailer, this would most likely have been our album of the month - a brilliant album that everyone should hear.

£12.99