Barnes left Austin and the Livers for a new Seattle start four years back, but this record's still rooted in Texas. His voice weaves in and out of the banjo rhythms on the title track, accepting hard times in subtly twisted back-porch phrases, then a track later you're dancing, cares dissolved. T. Rex's "Broken Hearted Blues" becomes stately chamber pop, and instruments from pop's dawn, sentiment from poverty and open-hearted artistry combine in a small near-classic.
Barnes left Austin and the Livers for a new Seattle start four years back, but this record’s still rooted in Texas. His voice weaves in and out of the banjo rhythms on the title track, accepting hard times in subtly twisted back-porch phrases, then a track later you’re dancing, cares dissolved. T. Rex’s “Broken Hearted Blues” becomes stately chamber pop, and instruments from pop’s dawn, sentiment from poverty and open-hearted artistry combine in a small near-classic.