Songs My Friends Wrote

As covers album concepts go, is first-rate: Canadian troubadour decided to cut ten songs penned by his colleagues, making this 2022 album the flip of , the 2019 EP where he focused on tunes that are relatively more well-known. There are certainly some recognizable names here, especially to Americana fans -- including a pair of songs each by and , plus songs by , , and -- but this is a work of advocacy, a way to spotlight songwriters who are kindred spirits. To 's credit, does sound like one of his albums: it's lean and unfussy, bearing arrangements that keep the song at the forefront. It's also a good sight looser and livelier than many of his earlier records -- maybe not as ambitious as , its 2020 predecessor, but containing some of the same spirit of relaxed adventure. So, delivers what a good covers record should: it works on its own terms and piques interest in the original versions. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine