Leave the Light On

Leave the Light On

Chris Smither has maintained such a consistent degree of excellence as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter throughout his recording career that when another great album emerges in his discography it's almost unremarkable. The veteran troubadour's Leave the Light On is another link in Smither's luminous chain. As ever, his expert folk/blues fingerpicking, warm and weathered baritone, and powerfully poetic songcraft dovetail perfectly on this mix of covers and original tunes. In terms of the latter, it's hard to think of another artist who could tackle the biblical and scientific versions of humanity's origins ("Origin of Species") and the evanescent trail of mortality (the title track) and make them sound as earthy and natural as traditional folk songs. Speaking of which, Smither's moody take on the trad tune "Blues in the Bottle" and his waltz-time reinvention of Bob Dylan's "Visions of Johanna" make it clear that he's one of the very few interpreters who can truly take another artist's song far beyond its starting point.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada