Review: Langhorne Slim shines bright with 'The Spirit Moves' (Grade: A)

In much the same way Delta Spirit’s “Into The Wide” hit me like a ton of bricks out of nowhere last year, Langhorne Slim surprised me with “The Spirit Moves” on Aug. 7.

As with Delta Spirit, I had heard Langhorne Slim before, and while I had enjoyed his previous music, it always seemed like he could do better.

The musician draws comparisons to Dawes and The Avett Brothers, which happen to be two of my favorite bands.

But, until “The Spirit Moves,” Slim was just pleasant-enough background noise.

The American singer-songwriter and his band, The Law, changed that.

The album begins with “Spirit Moves,” a toe-tapping and extremely catchy opening track.

“Changes” slows things down a bit, but features some wonderfully simple banjo-picking.

On songs like “Strangers,” Slim will likely draw comparisons to Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young.

Throughout the album, Slim and The Law provide a much needed breath of fresh air to music these days. Even many popular alternative groups have their music so over-produced – too much glitter and not enough grit.

“I’m tough enough to run with the bulls, but I’m too gentle to live amongst wolves.”

Slim’s insightful and simple lyrics, such as those in “Wolves,” show his personal growth through a path to sobriety since his last album, “The Way We Move,” in 2012.

The album’s best track might be “Southern Bells,” which is just an old-fashioned rock ’n’ roll song. The chorus lends itself wonderfully to windows-down-on-country-roads singing along.

“And we all fall down. And we all fall down. No one said it would be easy. No one warned me that it’d be this strange. Now, I’m praying for someone to release me, or something to help me settle my brain.”

Preach, brother.

The album is the most complete of Langhorne Slim’s career. Honestly, It might end up being my favorite of the year, very likely near the top at the very least.

Its simplicity, solid musicianship, great lyrics, and peaks and valleys provide such an enjoyable album to become slightly obsessed with as the summer winds down.

I speak from experience.