You can see from the cover of this compelling collection of folk-pop tunes that the villain Shipe has in mind is the old-timey, tie-the-damsel-to-the-train-tracks type of evildoer. Thankfully, the 11 tracks here aren't antiquated throwbacks as much as they are timeless, and Shipe's intentions are anything but dastardly. The carefully chosen mix of instruments yields a layered, clean combination of guitar and piano, often with string accompaniment or additional vibes from ukulele, mandolin, and tastefully executed percussion. Shipe's voice is as stark and straightforward as his lyrics, with songs like "Another Disaster" and "No Use Crying Over a Spilt Life" taking strength from their complete avoidance of punch-pulling. These are compositions that can initially sound light, even playful, but also reserve the ability to chill to the bone. Shipe's vision is a focused one, but you'll want to settle in for multiple listens to make sure you take it all in.
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