Scott H. Biram

First thing's first: "Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue" is the best country song you'll hear this year. That it came from a guy who seemed like just another in the line of 21st century blues revivalists is a bit of a surprise but Biram has never let that tag stand in the way of his one-man crusade against phony representations of the Southern culture on which he was raised. On Something's Wrong/Lost Forever, he takes an even harder look at his world, and what he sees is often harrowing. These observations fall in line with his "blues preacher" persona, as exemplified on "Hard Time" and "Judgment Day." But the real signs of Biram's progress are revealed when he pulls back and gets personal, as on "Wildside" and "Sinkin' Down," songs that show remarkable depth for someone whose reputation up until now has been a reflection of his unhinged live performances. This album is instead a well-rounded piece of work that can still be recommended to those who feel like the Black Keys have lost their edge.