Lots of folks call themselves singer-songwriters. And they sing. And they write. And the result is a pack of songs. And those people are the reason why I never refer to anyone as a singer-songwriter. The "genre" is littered with an almost impassable pile of dreck. I've got strong opinions on this. So trust me when I say if there's anyone who deserves the title "singer-songwriter", it's Nathan Kalish.

Nathan Kalish Songs for Nobody (self-released)

The note-perfect production on this set surely helps, but Kalish tells a story (or few) with each song. I once heard Nick Lowe say that he's never written an autobiographical song, that every song is about a character and not him personally. He may be exaggerating a bit, but Kalish certainly follows the same theory. These songs vary in style from jaunty shuffles to bright 70s-style soul-inflected Nashville anthems (and more), and Kalish brings a different story and singing style to each. The song is the thing, and he nurtures his with tenderness and care.

While I'm not entirely annoyed by the ear-crushing, genre-bending "country" sound that's so popular with the kids these days (I recall with amusement the horror of some people in the early 80s when Lionel Richie hit the country charts with "Deep River Woman" and other songs), I do remain more favorable to the cosmic country of the 70s. Kalish has just enough of the rock and plenty of the soul, and the understated production allows all of the wonderful people behind him to shine.

This is an ebullient set, one that transcends time and genre. Oh, folks will throw it into the americana hopper (the most over-used description since the dread s-s), and I guess that's fair, but Kalish simply makes good music. The kind that is hard to forget. In these days of social distancing, let these stories bring a little humanity back into your life. This is easily the best album I've heard in ages for evenings on the back porch with sunsets and bourbon. Totally alluring.

Jon Worley