Album Notes

Poor Man's Soul

It's hard to believe that it's been seven years since rural pop rockers Lou Ford last released a record. Back in the late 1990s they released two of the finest albums to come out of the so-called roots rock revival (the stellar debut, Sad, But Familiar and the critically lauded Alan Freed's Radio). It's harder still to believe that guitarists and chief songwriters Alan & Chad Edwards disbanded the remains of the band back in 2003. But as time goes by, angry young men forget what they were angry about and gain wisdom. So for the first time since their debut all four original members of the band (the Edwards Bros., bassist Mark Lynch and drummer Shawn "No Relation" Lynch) are back in the fold and it's like they never left. Poor Man's Soul contains everything that Lou Ford is rightfully known for. There are the aching fallen-out-of-love songs, the angry country-tinged rockers, and the only through genetics harmonies of the Edwards brothers. But it is the lightning strike chemistry between these four musicians that shines through. Lou Ford sounds more sure-footed now than ever before. This time around they knew exactly what they wanted their record to sound like so they produced it themselves. Their dense, layered production is the perfect backdrop for their seemingly sparse songs. The end result finally captures the essence of their much tauted rollicking yet heartbreaking live shows together. It's not a wall of sound per se, more like a side porch of sound. They'll break your heart in an instant but you won't mind at all.

The disk was mixed by indie-rock mix master, Brian Paulson, and was mastered by local wiz Dave Harris.