There’s an attractive quality to writing that is brave enough to tackle the literarily ‘inconvenient’—stories that are unglamorous and settings that reek of cringeworthy, modern bile. Cass McCombs’ stage is set with fast food, human error, and everything in between on that bizarre scale. But, as the beautiful, light instruments indicate, this album isn’t a fight. Nor is it necessarily an acceptance. If anything, it’s about faithfulness to what’s in front and farther ahead: an ode to seeing with fidelity. There’s turbulence in that devotion to truth; McComb’s exhibition of life is at times labyrinthine or delicate, kinda like the real thing.
25/30
A favourite: ‘Music is Blue’
‘Heartmind’ is out now via Anti Records.
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