Arriving just a year after the surprisingly eclectic and electric
rock
of
I Break Chairs
,
Damien Jurado
's
Where Shall You Take Me?
is something of a return -- but not a retreat -- to the moody minimalism of albums like
Ghost of David
. Songs like
"Amateur Night"
and
"Omaha"
share the acoustic strumming and rustic, shuffling rhythms of his earlier work, but also have a subtly polished confidence that brings out the warmth in
Jurado
's singing and playing as never before. The
country
folk
elements always present in his music come to the fore on
"Abilene"
"Window,"
which, with its sweet, close harmonies, borrows equally from the traditions of
bluegrass
hymns
. A devotional thread runs through
, particularly on its second half, where
"I Can't Get Over You"
"Tether"
contrast love's complexities with deceptively simple melodies and arrangements. Overall, the album is less challenging than
, although
"Texas to Ohio"
recalls that work's
Springsteen
-influenced
sound and the spooky, drum machine-driven
"Intoxicated Hands"
is a beautifully brooding
ballad
that rivals
's darkest moments. While
might be less ambitious than its predecessor, it certainly has its own compelling charms; the album has an off the cuff, direct feel that suggests it was recorded with a few friends over the course of an afternoon, particularly on songs like
"Matinee."
More importantly,
's singing and songwriting are affecting in virtually any setting and on any scope.
is a small triumph, but a triumph nonetheless. ~ Heather Phares