Tom Brosseau’s unique tenor is instantly recognizable, and it imbues his songs with a palpable feeling of loss, regret and nostalgia. His phrasing, the emotional quiver in his voice and the bare-bones production evoke the feeling of a late-night, working-class living room with friends sharing their most intimate secrets. Love songs like “You Can’t Stop,” “Slipping Away” and “Fit To Be Tied” are passionate declarations marked by a poignant awareness of life’s limitations and the core of sadness that informs even the happiest moments.
“A Trip To Emerado” is a literary talking blues that captures the details of a drive through a small town to observe a way of life that’s quickly vanishing. Producer and guitarist Sean Watkins complements Brosseau’s mournful vocals and minimal acoustic strumming with sharp, understated solos and subtle ornamentations that help intensify the quiet ambiance of these beautiful songs.
—j. poet
