GRANT-LEE PHILLIPS

Californian-born Nashville-based Grant has had his priorities sharpened by ongoing events in his homeland. A sense of edgy discomfort is apparent in the sound of this quickly recorded album and titles such as Unruly Mobs, Scared Stiff and King of Catastrophes give voice to a pointed and poetic urgency.

Lush, crazed and indignant on the fuzz guitar blow-out Another, Another, Then Boom, Phillips doesn’t revel in despond and History Has Their Number offers hope against the prevailing mood of despair.