Seeing this guy blow some some of the most demonic harmonica I've ever heard at a live show, the clean studio effort of Posthumous Release wasn't what I expected, though the band does have the complex textures of a live act. "All The Trains Are Gone"****, seemingly a chronicle of relationships, has an odd stop-start chorus that escalates from Al's compellingly weird harmonies to a full 90's Americana band. "Luck And Circumstances Blues"**** is also oddly timed, and filled-out similar to late-era Tom Petty, if Petty had anything interesting to say. Rose's lyrics, though excessively awkward in places - 'your timing was perfect, as perfect as greed' ???- are always evocative, and occasionally schmaltzy - blue as a whisper, green as a meadow, red as a pepper, black as the night (from "Half A Waltz) - but usually not. There is a tendency toward rustic themes, and downright earthy on "Down The Mississippi"**** and "Mud On Mud", and country murder ballad "Ruby Shade"**** seems a predictable inclusion, though very clever and amusing. The title song**** is a critique of the music industry, but winking in its self-reference. On the other side of the coin, "The Miracle Of Pain"****, is almost uncomfortably personal - "the x-rays were embarrassing, I'm just like a broken home" - so the images are memorably powerful. The second half of the album is consistently softer except for "Ruby Shade", and seems mostly sentimental middle-road country, which will probably appeal to others more than me. Lines referring to "hard core dreams, soft core hope" and red peppers are a bit much for me to take, but what do I know.
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