The excellent fourth album by Toronto singer-songwriter Greg Hobbs is a return to the more acoustic sound of his earlier work. The sound, a mash of saloon-style country, blues and straight-forward folk, is much better suited to his lyrics, which sound as though he's lost somewhere in between the barroom and the Heartbreak Hotel. You can almost imagine you're slow dancing to I Won't Always be Smiling as the roadhouse empties out, comforted by Nicole Dueck's delicate backing vocals.

The stark title track, about love lost and not quite forgotten, fits well with the melancholy lyrics. In fact, most of the lyrics are melancholy, but the mood is so expertly matched by the music that it has an uplifting effect, rather than being depressing. The perfect album for nursing a broken heart, a hangover, or preferably both.

http://www.penguineggs.ab.ca/

*****