Langhorne Slim

Since his 2005 debut album, When the Sun’s Gone Down, Langhorne Slim left label Narnack to sign with V2, which folded in North America last year, leaving Slim high and dry, with a new full-length ready for release. Thankfully, Kemado picked him up and a year after it was expected, his sophomore album is now being released. It’s not just the labels that have changed though, as Slim wisely found some support in the War Eagles, his backing band, who help beef up his hasty metropolitan bluegrass. Almost immediately you can hear the difference, which is also emphasised by some much stronger production courtesy of long-time chums Malachi DeLorenzo and Sam Kassirer. Maybe it was a bigger budget — it’s unclear — but the songs benefit from the extra attention. Slim opens up the floor for a jubilant hoedown on "She’s Gone,” which is boosted by unorthodox percussion, and "The Honeymoon” feels like a full-on rock band blasting through their big hit. That said, Slim doesn’t forget his biggest talent — tugging at the heartstrings with his cracking wail, best demonstrated on the solo acoustic "Oh Honey.” One day Nashville will beat down his door.