Texas singer-songwriter
Guy Clark
has been a patriarchal figure to many in the Nashville songwriting community for decades. Artists like
Rodney Crowell
and
Steve Earle
studied under the watchful eye of
Clark
during their early years. Like friend
Townes Van Zandt
before him,
is a master storyteller, a dream weaver blessed with the ability to match ear-catching melodies with poetic lyrics that aim for the deepest part of the listener's soul.
Somedays the Song Writes You
,
's eleventh studio album, is a well-crafted collection of compositions that rank among some of his best.
's tobacco-and-whiskey-stained voice has never sounded better than it does on such tracks as
"The Guitar,"
a fiery number about a wayward musician and the pawnshop guitar that causes an unexpected awakening in him, and
"Hollywood,"
a slow-grooving cut that takes a sideways look at the world-famous district of Los Angeles, CA.
, as he has on previous albums, covers a
tune on
. This time around the singer turns out a dry-throated reading of
Van Zandt
's graceful
"If I Needed You.,"
Not one to parrot anybody,
makes the song his own.
"The Coat,,"
one of many standout tracks on the disc, is a simple reflection on a bad morning -- that comes after a night of drinking and no sleep -- and turns into an even worse day when rain and cold threaten to muddy the main character's mind even more than it already is.
is another choice album from one of the greatest songwriters to ever come out of the state of Texas. ~ Todd Sterling