Jonathan Byrd makes music for these tough times, tracing a legacy that runs from Ramblin' Jack Elliott through Guy Clark and John Prine. His lively country-folk is humble in its presentation and timeless in surveying life's never-ending aches. He's well respected among folk's cloistered minions, though his approach is a lot dustier than anything David Wilcox has done. Like a skilled second-story man, given the time and opportunity, he'll steal something you hold dear. Only in this case, you'll thank the burglar. —Chris Parker