Austin based singer/songwriter Alejandro Rose-Garcia, better known as Shakey Graves, released his second excellent album, And The War Came. Compared to the one-man-band, lo-fi aesthetic of his debut, Roll the Bones, And The War Came showcases more polished arrangements and draws from a broader base of American music styles while imparting the dynamic energy of his live performances. While the instrumentation is tight and finely crafted, its Rose-Garcia’s expressive vocals that drive the ten tracks. Highlights include: the bluesy “If Not For You”, the sparse “Only Son”, the haunting “Dearly Departed”, the charmingly rustic “Big Time Nashville Star”, and the slow burning, “House of Winston.” And The War Came is a stellar sophomore effort from a young talent; if you get the chance to go see him live, I highly recommend it. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Justin Townes Earle, Woodie Guthrie, Pokey Lafarge, Joe Pug, Wiyos