Canadian alt-country roots rocker Fred Eaglesmith is known for writing songs about rural life, down-and-out characters, lost loves and quirky rural folk. Eaglesmith’s albums come out with minimal fanfare, but his loyal audience continues to seek them out and catch the ever-touring roots troubadour on his extensive 42 year travels. Eaglesmith tends to mix things up, and on Standard, his 22nd release, he opts for a spare and leisurely vibe with funky production – a bit of a change from his past few albums. A few standout tacks include: the opener and ode to an old tractor “Twin City Mini”; the heartbreaker “Flames”; the rural tale “Jenny Smith”; and the lovelorn “Tom Turkey.” Standard is another worthy addition to a discography with few equals in roots music. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Slaid Cleaves, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Robert Earl Keen, Tom Russell, Billy Joe Shaver