Slaid Cleaves - Unsung

Slaid Cleaves is one of the finest vocalists in Americana; his pure voice delivers lyrics with a heartfelt passion which is very nearly unsurpassed by anyone. But in this collection, Cleaves pays homage to friends in the industry, taking on little-known songs by little- known writers, in his own words, "friends and colleagues, my brothers and sisters in arms." All songwriters want to tip their hats to fellow songwriters with an album of cover songs. If only they all did it as well as Cleaves.

Slaid Cleaves is one of the finest singer/songwriters currently recording Americana music. Another of the vastly talented Austin, Texas, natives, Cleaves has been recording his own music for many years. This is his tribute to fellow songwriters, to songs that haven't been heard too often, and to imagery that needs to be seen. He gathered up songs that made him think, gave him a lump in his throat, and he's presented them as only he can- with a sharp and poignant honesty that makes their beauty that much clearer.

I listened to this disc before reading anything on it, diving into the music without knowing who wrote the songs, or who sings the backups, and I just melted away from the inside out on some of them. My favorite right away, "Song for June," turns out to have been written by a young (22) JJ Baron, the day after June Carter died. It struck me deeply immediately; and now that I know the story behind it, the lyrics seem even more powerful.

Slaid Cleaves, like so many greatly deserving Americana artists, does not get even a third of the accolades he's due. This album may have once been "unsung," but now the songs are there, saved for posterity, and they really need to be heard.