I'm Wide Awake It's Morning

The most obvious precedent here is Tom Waits' "Blood Money" and "Alice"- stylistically different, and as good as each other, but for different reasons. This is immediately accessible, featuring Emmylou Harris to add a layer of vocal varnish. It's a nice listen, full of lush productions and heart-stirring tales of romance, and conditions of the human heart. The country-ish theme is prevalent throughout, with lots of pedal steel and mournful brass, most notably on "Train Under Water", though the hit single of "Lua" is a quiet, intimate story-telling acoustic piece that is just about the most affecting song here. --Thom Allott