Jon Langford

Bloodshot Records’ elder statesman returns with his second full-length solo album that is equal parts country and cow punk. Mixed together, this fusion of sounds creates a full out riveting rock ride. The witty Welshman is at his creative best here with this clever concept album that traces the life of the fictional country singer Lofty Deeds from musical obscurity in Texas to a legendary and popular Chicago nightclub performer. The rollicking "Nashville Radio” leans towards the punk-roots side, while "Living a Lie” brings up the image of a high-country hillbilly hoedown. The Renaissance man is also a gifted painter, and some of Langford’s original works are showcased on the album’s art. All the Fame of Lofty Deeds features mainly Langford originals, but he also throws in a country cover of Procol Harum’s "Homburg” for good measure. The final cut, "Trouble in Mind” was recorded live with the Pine Valley Cosmonauts and features some killer steel guitar by Jon Rauhouse. As a follow up to his two successful collaborative projects in 2003 (Mayors of the Moon, the collaboration with Toronto’s the Sadies, and Executioners’ Last Songs Volume 1, with the Pine Valley Cosmonauts), Langford is on a serious roots rock roll.