A title like carries some gravity, so it's no surprise that the 2019 debut from often feels quite weighty. doesn't disguise his sober, somber intentions, opening the proceedings with "The Smoke and the Stars," a mini-epic grounded by guitars so melodramatic, it isn't until the steel guitars sigh at the halfway point that his Americana roots come into view. Chalk some of this portentousness up to embracing the prog vistas opened up by , but where often dwells in a retro fantasia, belongs to the moment. Often, his tempos are fleet and his words are flinty, a combination that can recall , but he has his own distinct flair and wit. It's a blend that contrasts sharply and welcomingly with the sadness emanating off of "The Smoke and the Stars" and "Phantom Limb," songs pulled from personal troubles, and helps gives a human richness. This isn't a record about wallowing in the murk, it's about surviving the hard times and finding hope on the other side. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine