Broke Down
On his second Philo release, singer-songwriter Slaid Cleaves builds a bridge between New England, where he grew up, and Texas, where he now lives. Cleaves's voice often affects a yearning quality reminiscent of traditional Irish music, and his songs are populated by the sort of tragic characters familiar to old folk ballads. In "Cold and Lonely," a poor farmer grieves for his dead wife and children, while the narrative "Breakfast in Hell" is a Canadian logger's answer to "John Henry."  The suffering takes a more personal turn in "One Good Year," where Cleaves laments, "It's a bitter wind, in your face every day / It's the little sins, that wear your soul away." But just when the downcast mood begins to grow oppressive, Cleaves comes back with the defiant "Bring It On" and the redemptive "This Morning I Am Born Again," featuringWoody Guthrie's amazing lyrics set to new music. Austin-based producer Gurf Morlix , known for his long association withLucinda Williams, contributes spare and evocative instrumental textures.--Rick Mitchell