Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

After years of struggling with homelessness and addiction, former Nashville street musician Doug Seegers' star is finally getting the chance to shine. Several albums into his late start recording career, the latest release from Seegers sees the Stetson-hatted singer at the top of his game with a collection of country tunes that thankfully avoid the forced clichés of new country by offering up something inherently genuine. As a result, candid tracks like "Out On The Street", "Poor Side Of Town" and the cautionary "Demon Seed" reflect something of Seegers' past life and, whilst there are no direct mentions of the man's Christian faith, there is a general sense of hope and redemption that underpins everything. Producer Joe Henry (Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt) keeps things simple to allow his ward's deceptively powerful voice to shine with the likes of the stunning "My Little Falling Star" showcasing what happens when Seeger takes his performance up a notch whilst the self-explanatory "Rockabilly Bug" finds all involved letting their collective hair down for a brief moment of frivolity. A deep and meaningful release from one of country music's most talented but still largely undiscovered treasures.

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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