Charlie Sexton
Cruel and Gentle Things
(Back Porch Records)

Charlie Sexton’s first release in a decade is a moody, roots-oriented affair that conjures up late nights and intimate conversations.

Sexton has most recently played guitar for Bob Dylan and worked as a producer for Lucinda Williams, which provides a clue about his style. Folk, rock and blues influences creep into “Cruel And Gentle Things,” with Sexton’s smoky voice and unhurried delivery binding the pieces together.

The album standout is “Gospel,” a beautifully stark song that sets the dark tone for the CD. Another highlight is the folk-country tune “I Do The Same For You,” which sounds a hopeful note that second chances do exist.

“Once In A While” captures a folkabilly sound, while “Dillingham Lane,” written with Steve Earle, recalls the Austin, Texas, street where Sexton lived as child.

The CD features only 10 tracks, but they are consistently strong. Sexton obviously only releases an album when it lives up to his expectations, even if it takes 10 years. - D. Kimura