If John Prine and Mitch Hedberg had a baby…” goes the bio blurb on John Craigie’s website. Sure, you cite those favorable comments that suit you, and this is quite a big one from “The Stranger” (definitely a stranger to me).
Claiming any similarities to John Prine is quite a big claim for anybody who falls into the category of a singer/songwriter with more folky inclinations. You can definitely fit Craigie in both of those. Craigie, Portland Oregon resident has been around for some fifteen years now and has quite a few albums behind him and has been traveling around quite a lot, trying something of a Woodie Guthrie lifestyle. Another name to check, maybe.
If you haven’t heard of him before or were doubtful after hearing his previous outings (wouldn't know why, but anyway), His latest album, “No Rain No Rose”, should leave you no doubts. It confirms that Craigie is a master of subdued ( his “Savannah”) and sublime (his version of the Stones absolute classic “Tumbling Dice”).
But to be compared to somebody like Prine, lyrics have to work too. And they do. Try, for example, “I Am California” (one of the best songs on the album):
“So drink all my wine Cut all my trees Make love on my beaches Smoke all my weed I am CaliforniaCan't you seeWherever you roamyou'll always want me”
Backed by the music that even starts to veer into JJ Cale territory, it is exactly what a nostalgia song should sound like. And Craigie is not even from California.
So if Craigie comes your way, and by how much he traveled he certainly will, don’t miss him out. In the meantime, this album can serve as a perfect preparation. The only problem is you might keep on playing it over and over again.
