One of the records that is finding it’s way into heavy rotation these past few months is Joe Henry’s “Civilians”.  By no means am I a music journalist, so I’m just writing this out of my pure appreciation of this unique musician.

I first became acquainted with Mr. Henry’s music upon hearing “Richard Pryor Addresses a Tearful Nation”.  I was essentially looking for “something like Tom Waits” and stumbled upon the album Scar and its sequel Tiny Voices.  Both are masterpieces of “the atmospheric record”.

As a good actor disappears into his/her character, so the good singer/songwriter plays his/her song.  “Civilians” feels like an Americana record written 20 years in the future looking back on the present day.  And like his previous records, it is atmospheric, but less so on the production, more in the beautiful / sad moods of his songwriting.

Anyway, check it out if you get a chance.