Chris Smither: Time Stands Still (Shock)

As on his earlier Leave The Light On, this grizzled singer-songwriter now in his mid 60s, covers a Bob Dylan song, this time It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes a Train To Cry.

He also adds in Mark Knopfler's Madame Geneva's and that's a more useful reference, because Knopfler explores roots music -- but Smither lives it. His low grumble isn't too far removed from Knopfler's although comes on rather more weatherbeaten and full of gravitas.

He is, for the most part, an acoustic pick'n'strum man (with a small band) who has tales of the wonder and woes of this world ("the outlook ain't so good"); about how much we learn but how little we really know (I Don't Know); and a lot of first person ruminations: "What do I do here, it's hard to be clear"; "I know I ain't no shining prize"; "I think, but not too well" . . .

Not as deep and dark as Leave The Light On, but if that appealed then this one will too.