Jeff Black - Birmingham Road (1998)

Jeff Black is a sincere singer/songwriter who puts a lot of feeling and emotion into his work, and the results are some of the best music released in the late 90's. Working with the band Wilco minus Jeff Tweedy, Black etches out fine portraits of American life without the sappiness or self-consciousness often attributed to the singer/songwriter genre. "That's Just About Right," "What Do I Want," "Ghosts in the Graveyard," and the title track are all great examples of the fine craftsmanship found here. For music lovers of all shapes and sizes, take a walk down Birmingham Road with Jeff Black. It'll feel like you've come home again. © James Chrispell