Well, the only real question here is can an artist have a career album after nearly forty years of making great music? In this case the answer is two big thumbs up. He’s topped himself with this all new studio recording. Tom has spent the past couple of years working on these songs and finding the sound that would bring it all full circle. Backed by the members of Calexico with some vocal assists from Gretchen Peters this one plants itself in the sounds of the old and new west via any border town you can name. Opening with the track “East Of Woodstock, West Of Viet Nam” this one never lets go for a second. The songs summon up the ghosts of those who‘ve gone before as well as characters from contemporary America. They all share the same stage on this album. Like any great recording a different song surfaces to the top with each listen.

Shout Factory

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