holy SHIT.
so my friend Zak moved to Laramie, WY to be with his girlfriend who is in grad school there. He is a really talented finger-picking guitar player and singer, and has been recording this album. In high school/college he was in a band with his cousin that was really good. Definitely has a thing where he self-sabotages to avoid criticism (ie, "oh, whatever, I don't care, they're just demos"). He is one of those people who... you might imagine, being my friend, that he is some kind of hipster. But he is not. He is 100% all-american Weirdo. I am sad that he moved away and I wish I had gotten to know him better. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of classic blues, folk, and country music. A major soft spot for really flashy country from the 70s and 80s. Also a surprising love for 70s and 80s punk music. His radio show was the best ever. You always learned something new.
He also recorded stuff when he was THIRTEEN that has recently been played on WFMU, the coolest radio station on earth. He is one talented guy.
Anyway,
here is his album. My first impression is that this is a lot sweeter than any of his other stuff.