Matt Bauer - The Jessamine County Book Of The Living (Crossbill)

It used to be that I could count the number of “good” indie folk acts on one hand with fingers to spare. Matt Bauer may have cemented his place among the Andrew Birds and Iron & Wines (to who he probably owes more than a little influence to). But while Sam Beam has gone 180 degrees from his folk sound, Bauer digs in his heels and immerses us all in it. He also subtly packs in the texture within the largely sparse arrangements. Music listeners with limited scopes might hear banjo-driven songs written about Kentucky and think about Burt Reynolds and Ned Beatty in a swamp. There is a large theme of nature but that’s where those similarities end. This is no psycho hoedown. Even the biggest banjo detractors will have a hard time arguing with Bauer’s instrument of choice as his play and softly sung tales of melancholia are uniquely pleasing to the ears. The dark images conjured in the mind’s eye by The Jessamine County Book Of The Living are offered a conjoined hopefulness. There are some downright pretty supporting vocals from Jolie Holland (“Blacklight Horses,”) and entire choruses throughout. Bauer reaches folk hero status on “Morning Stars”, a real gem and probably the best song ever with a Bruce Springsteen reference. There is even a track using transmogrification as metaphor. Sophisticated and reflective, Bauer’s Book is excellent.