After two decades of making music, noted songwriter Bill Callahan (formerly Smog) is making some of the best records of his career. Dream River, the follow-up to 2011’s gorgeous Apocalypse, is a more spare, pastoral jazz-tinged folk effort. Filled with hazy acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, and intermittent violin and flute, the set of eight tracks features Callahan’s warm baritone and breezy rhythms. Standouts include: twangy opener “The Sing”; the sentimental “Small Plane”; centerpiece “Summer Painter”; and “Javelin Unlanding.” Dream River is required listening and one of the finest albums of the year! – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Cass McCombs, Silver Jews, Smog