 
On his latest solo album, X frontman John Doe does what he does best: Americana-tinged rock that is truer to the spirit of country music than most of the so-called “new country.” The majority of the songs are on the slow side, predominantly acoustic, grim and filled with the blues. My favorites, however, tend to be the more up-tempo (if not necessarily upbeat) numbers, like the pounding rocker, “Heartless,” and “Mama Don’t,” a duet with Doe’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Veronica Jane. (It’s hard to believe she’s sixteen; it seems like only yesterday when I read her birth announcement in Rolling Stone.) Another highlight is “Hwy 5,” co-written by Doe’s partner in X, Exene Cervenka, with Neko Case doing an excellent job on the Exene-style harmonies. The album boasts a roster of many more special guests from the realms of alt-rock, alt-folk, and alt-country: Doe’s frequent collaborator Dave Alvin, Grant Lee Phillips, Smokey Hormel, Cindy Lee Berryhill, Kristin Hersh (whose new band, 50 Foot Wave, opened for X on their latest tour), and X’s own drummer, D.J. Bonebrake, on vibraphone. This CD is recommended for fans of X, American roots music, or any of the aforementioned guest artists. -- Arden R. Smith
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John
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