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What might first appear to be a tribute to the music of Sleepy John Estes by folk ace Peter Case is actually just a tip of his coin-holding hat to the Tennessee bluesman. Case was clearly inspired by Estes’s keen observational skill and perseverence over a lengthy career spent largely out of the spotlight he shows it by turning his personal road experiences and overheard bar talk into poignant songs packed with subtle social statements of broader significance.
Other than maybe Butch Hancock and Richard Thompson (who adds guitar and vocals to a track), few of Case’s acoustic-strumming rivals can match his sophisticated commentary and economy of language, whether he’s barking out bluesy first-person narratives or tossing off a timely broadside concerning justice for the rich. Hopefully, Bob, Bruce and Billy are taking notes.