Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

A new album from American singer/songwriter Peter Case is always a cause for small celebrations in the Rimmer household! Totally underrated and yet an excellent songwriter working in the mainstream. Only occasionally do Christian themes surface in his writings, which is a shame, but he is a witty observer of humanity and this album, like its predecessors, is a mixture of pop sensibilities and rootsy folky influences. At the heart of his work he is an excellent storyteller with the rapid delivery of the Cajun influenced "Two Heroes", the best example on this set where Case presents a story with a twist in the tale. Other standouts include the acoustic "Paradise Etc" which opens the album and is classic Case - sounds like something from the 'Blue Guitar' album. Case also enjoys rocking out in a shuffling manner on "Cool Drink O' Water" and "Coulda Woulda Shoulda" which are both typical examples of Case boogie, the latter packed with humour and cleverness. Most poignant of all on the album is "Cold Trail Blues" where Case reflects on his current distance from God wanting to get closer. There's some beautiful music here, fabulous songs and a man struggling on the journey.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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