Consumer Guide Album

Chris Smither: Don't It Drag On [Poppy, 1972]
Smither writes tough-minded yet numinous post-folk songs that do justice to his adventurous taste in other people's--the covers include "Friend of the Devil," "No Expectations," and "Down in the Flood." His Vaughan-Monroe-sings-the-blues baritone is both yearning and astringent, and he sounds like he wishes he were playing bottleneck even when he isn't. A smart record. A-