Michael Weston King

Although he’s still slowly getting acquainted with North American audiences, British singer/songwriter Michael Weston King has been a prominent name in the European alt-country scene since the late ’90s when he fronted the Good Sons. In the ensuing time he’s shared stages with the likes of Steve Earle and Rodney Crowell, and even had Townes Van Zandt record one of his songs ("Riding The Range”). Following a rarities compilation and a covers collection, A New Kind Of Loneliness finds King in good shape to take another crack at building his audience on this side of the Atlantic. While he still gets his boots dusty on "Let The Waves Break Around Your Face” and "My Heart Stopped Today” (featuring L.A. vets Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen), King broadens his musical horizons with the sweeping, piano-driven "Here’s The Plan,” the plaintive "This Man Can Break So Easily” and powerful closer "It Will End In Tears.” Britain cannot boast many truly distinctive Americana artists but King’s pure songwriting prowess instantly makes his origins irrelevant. This album, and the rest of his catalogue, is worth discovering for any fan of honest, earthy music.