The singer/songwriter's excellent 4th LP sees him explore themes of generational trauma, addiction, and loneliness.
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To be completely honest, I didn't plan on reviewing Willi Carlisle's newest release. Not that I don't enjoy the budding folk artist's music, quite the opposite. I just didn't see the record having an impact on me quite the way it did. After listening through the record from front to back a few times, I have to share my thoughts on an album that deserves ALL the ears.
What struck me most about 'Critterland' was the genuine vulnerability on display with nearly every track. Willi's voice really shows the depth and feeling behind the often times painful lyricism, and the accompanying instrumentation is frenetic yet controlled, a balancing act that makes for a fascinating, gut wrenching, and melancholic mix.
On the title track, 'Critterland', Willi croons "'Cause why have a god if no one is saved, I think love is a burden if it ain't brave" which in itself is a beautiful bit of poetry, and really alludes to the greater message at play throughout the record. Carlisle paints a beautiful picture of the human condition at its lowest, but also at its most hopeful.
Whether he is singing about the price of true freedom on 'Higher Lonesome' or lamenting the loss of a friend on 'Jaybird', Willi Carlisle delivers on brutally honest, vulnerable, and real songs that fit perfectly into the landscape we all currently find ourselves in. I've seen a comparison or two to the late, great John Prine, and they aren't far off. Where John was a beacon of truth and heartfelt songwriting, Willi Carlisle shows that he's more than ready to wield the baton for the current generation.
If you are a country fan, folk fan, or just need to reflect on the current state of, well, everything, 'Critterland' is a record that I can't recommend enough. It's a true achievement and masterpiece that deserves to see Willi Carlisle become a household name for the fans of the genre. Now if you can excuse me, I need to go give this record another listen!
Standout tracks: All of them.
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