Rustin’ in the Rain

Tyler Childers’ sixth studio album, Rustin’ in the Rain,’ is one of the best and brightest indie-country releases in recent memory. Coming in at just under 30 minutes, the seven tracks cover a lot of territory in smartly crafted, superbly produced strides. ‘Percheron Mules’ is a toe-tapping bluegrass roller graced by Jesse Wells’ mighty fine fiddling, James Barker’s slinky lap steel and vocal backing by Ronnie McCoury (who also plays mandolin), Jason Carter and Alan Bartram from The Travelin’ McCourys. The title-track could be mistaken for a folk-rock radio hit from the 70s. ‘Luke 2:8-10’, a gospel exultation with a multi-track twist, features vocals by Margo Price and Erin Rae.

The minor dust storm kicked up by the video of the album’s showcase single, ‘In Your Love’, which depicts a gay romance between two Appalachian coal miners in the 1950s, takes nothing away from a beautiful love song delivered with passion and sincerity by Childers and his band, The Food Stamps. Similarly, the 32-year-old Kentucky-born troubadour’s take on ‘Help Me Make It Through the Night’ wrenches every teardrop and twang from the classic Kris Kristofferson original. Rustin’ in the Rain solidifies Tyler Childers’ rightful ranking in the progressive country vanguard.