Public Domain: Songs From The Wild Land

While it is not unusual for renowned singer-songwriters to record other people's material--Shawn Colvin's Cover Girl and Elvis Costello's Kojak Variety come immediately to mind--the connection between the chosen material and the singer's own oeuvre is often tenuous. The concise simplicity and pithiness of Costello's choices seem more admired than emulated by the verbose composer, and we can all name tribute recordings that miss the point of the honored artist completely. That is why it is such a pleasure to witness Dave Alvin's obvious connection to the folk songs he has picked for Public Domain. Alvin's strength as a songwriter has always been his evocation of the same timeless themes of love, land, and death that make songs such as "Shenandoah," "Railroad Bill," and "Sign of Judgement" American classics. His work also shares those songs' ability to tell a story that finds the universal in the particular. Finally, his double-threat production and performance of these tunes in a manner both reverent and relevant clinch his place as one of the reigning royalty of roots rock. --Michael Ross