It turns out the success of Joe McGuinness’s debut album, From These Seeds, was no accident. Tin Umbrella, Joe’s sophomore release, packs a pretty strong punch, highlighting music that at once embraces folk simplicity and explodes with kinetic rock fundamentals. 

The first track, “Dirt”, sets a decidedly different tone for the album than what we’re used to with Joe and may surprise fans with its edgy, muscular, almost hauntingly infectious rhythm. “Sinners Blues”, “Payday ” (a Mississippi John Hurt original) and “River Song” take us back to where we’ve long been comfortable with Joe—they all share a clean, flawless, folk sound and are driven by his signature finger-picking style. 

Then there are the standout cuts. Cuts like “Tin Umbrella”, an instrumental that somehow still manages to sing, and “Voices”, a spiritual that feels layered with instrumental accompaniment, even though it has next to none. 

But Tin Umbrella does so much more than prove that Joe McGuinness, alone, has staying power. Above all else, the album hails tribute to Atlanta’s thriving music scene. 

Joe pays respect to Atlanta blues legend Bill Sheffield on Track 10 with his thoughtful interpretation of “It Don’t Bother Me”. Joined on nearly every song by a bevy of local talent, including bassist Aaron Trubic and percussionist Scott Callison, as well as accordionist Adam Holliday and Oliver Wood on vocals, Joe makes it clear that he’s not much interested in stepping away from the pack. And why should he, when he can bring the whole damn pack with him on his rise to the top? 

More the merrier, I say. Atlanta music has yet to disappoint. And who better to let the world know than Joe McGuinness?
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