 As Good as Alt-Country Gets!
It makes me wonder how a talent like Houston Marchman has slipped between the cracks of a major recording label. Sure, he's anti-Nashville. But what self-respecting musician isn't? The fact simply is that this artist can sing and write a finely crafted song. On first listening, one can easily hear the uncanny resemblance to Steve Earle, but it would be reductionistic and fairly preemptive to say that he is a Steve Earle knock-off. Sure, his songs bear the same edgy, picaresque qualities found in much of Earle's work; however, Marchman is no imitator. In fact, he's fresh, original, and ultimately, one hell of a likeable songwriter. Almost every track on the album is good, so pick it up and enjoy, and pray that Houston Marchman finds a major label. He deserves it.
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