Loudon Wainwright III

More tribute albums should be as adventurous as High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project. Instead of simply recording a handful of Charlie Poole classics, Wainwright goes for broke and mixes in a nearly equal number of original compositions inspired by the old-time icon. He also adds samples of Poole's scratchy, old recordings. Because he so clearly loves this music, Wainwright's performances are passionate, lively and filled with a reverence that's never overbearing.

This two-CD set of covers and originals conjures Charlie Poole, the fast-living 1920s
protocountry artist heard on the excellent 2005 anthology You Ain't Talkin' to Me. It also
unifies the two sides of Loudon Wainwright: sentimental wiseass folkie and tragicomic
character actor. He tweaks lyrics and personalizes arrangements, as Poole did. And
Wainwright's sprawling family (including ex-wife Suzzy Roche) add clever harm... More >