Last year, William Elliot Whitmore cracked my top 20 songs of 2005 with the rollicking "Midnight" powered only by acoutic guitar and a stomping foot. Now he returns with another full length entitled Song of the Blackbird (Southern Records). While I am delinquint in purchasing the LP, I can say without reservation that the simplistic yet gourgeous "Dry" (see below for mp3) is one of the best five songs of 2006. And "The Chariot", with its full backing band demonstrates William's versatility to allow something other than his right foot to drive the beat. In many ways William's music is difficult to describe - yes, it's primarily banjo/acoustic guitar with a folk/bluegrass bent. And yes, his voice draws comparisons of those of Tom Waits and Johnny Cash. But it's his punk foundation/attitude that adds another layer of credibility to his music (he sells skateboard decks with banjos on them for Christ's sake). The only band that I can think of that has come as close bridging the styles of bluegrass/folk and punk is Mule and all of PW Long's subsequent work - not only in style but thematically as well.
Dry (mp3) from Song of the Blackbird
The Chariot (mp3) from Song of the Blackbird
Midnight (mp3) from Ashes to Dust
Cold and Dead (mp3) Hyms for the Hopeless
