On his seventh offering, and his first since 2001's , Okie beatnik cum Austin songwriter listens deeply to the tender whispers of his Muse and lets flow with his most personal offering to date. has always given us song pictures of an America that has either disappeared or is on the verge; he has celebrated its highways, its people, and its heart. He has also given us some choice love songs. But on he has gone deep into the latter theme and has come up with a beauty. It's not that he's ignored his other concerns; there are road songs and topical tunes as well. But it's in 's love songs that listeners get to hear a depth and vastness that feel new. 's voice is his greatest asset and he uses it to great effect here, and his production is spot-on throughout. The title track, and are all broken-hearted , colored in woven and textured acoustic and electric guitars accented by 's accordions, pianos, and organs, and supported by a taut yet subtle rhythm section in bassist and drummer . None of these songs cops out to cheap sentimentality or trite tropes. 's grainy honeyed croon is the force that drives them, and splits them open for the listener to wedge into his words. Other love songs, such as are more upbeat , though the searing tenderness and grace are ever-present. On the rockers, such as the rollicking (featuring on guitar) and takes his barroom band through the changes and spits out his words with authority and raucous glee. is the finest studio recording of 's career to date, and that's saying plenty. ~ Thom Jurek