Phase two in
Dan Auerbach
's
John Anderson
revival project -- the first was producing
Years
, the excellent 2020 comeback album by the hardcore country singer --
Something Borrowed, Something New: A Tribute to John Anderson
shifts the focus from the vocalist himself to his body of work. It's a familiar gambit with tribute albums: introduce an older or obscure artist to a new audience by recruiting younger, hipper musicians to record new versions of old tunes. The tactic may be the same but
Something Borrowed, Something New
feels fresh, possibly because
Auerbach
and his co-producer
David Ferguson
had all the participants come into Easy Eye Sound to cut their contributions. This gives the record a unified feel that helps bridge the gap between modern superstars
Eric Church
and
Luke Combs
and Americana mavericks
Sturgill Simpson
Tyler Childers
. Between those two extremes, there is plenty of space for young guns and veterans alike. The latter is represented by the late
John Prine
, who gives a knowing take of "1959," along with
Gillian Welch
David Rawlings
' sensitive rendition of "I Just Came Home to Count the Memories,"
Del McCoury
's ready-for-the-dancehall "Would You Catch a Falling Star," and
Jamey Johnson
's leathery version of "I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Some Day)." Apart from the relaxed funk of
Nathaniel Rateliff
's "Low Dog Blues" and
Church
's "Mississippi Moon" -- they're paired together on the record --
the Brothers Osborne
's sinewy, lively "You Can't Judge a Book (By the Cover)" and
Childers
' bluegrass makeover of "Shoot Low Sheriff!," this is a decidedly mellow affair, but that relaxed vibe helps make the recordings feel lived-in; they're not cookie-cutter covers, they're full-blooded interpretations. Such a subtle but notable distinction elevates
above most tribute albums: it works effectively as a tribute but, better still, it's a strong record on its own merits. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine