Soundproof Magazine.com

SOUNDS LIKE: Pastoral Americana banjo-strummin’ folk music you can set your toe-a-tappin’ to.

WHY/WHY NOT: I find a great deal of pleasure in listening to Americana guitar-pickin' folk. The simplicity, honesty and downright tenacity of this genre lends itself to setting musicians apart. Take Kelly Joe Phelps for example and his new instrumental record, Western Bell.

Western Bell, Phelps' eighth release, carries with it the sounds of a dusty road, long lonesome nights of touring and, yes, a faint glimmer of joyous promise. There's plenty of lonesome on here, mind you. A talent that takes his lone-wolf styling to an intimate corner of the room, you'll find that the music on Western Bell is timeless in its own way – it could very easily been crafted at the turn of the century. Standout tracks such as "Hometown With Melody" and "Hattie's Hat" are exemplary of this. If your flavour is genuine-hearted, world-weary honest solo Americana, then Western Bell is for yo