East to West

iTunes Review

With East to West, country music’s true believer makes a record that keeps the faith even as he aims for something new. Ditching the steel guitar for a more varied sonic palette, including moody, Spanish-tinged guitar stylings from Mark Knopfler and some inspired bouzouki courtesy of acoustic virtuoso Tim O’Brien, Burch genre-hops through rockabilly, classic country, straight-up bluegrass, and Buddy Holly-tinged fifties rock, all without breaking so much as a sweat. Most of these songs were recorded in just one take, for a sound as spontaneous as Burch’s touch is light. Highlights include the lilting swing of “When I’m in Love,” a duet with Kelly Hogan that’s so giddy it oughta be illegal, and the bass-slapping punch of “Daddy Rhythm Guitar,” an ode to the backing musician as workingman stiff. The cheerful murder-suicide ballad “Little Glass of Wine” finds Burch harmonizing with Dr. Ralph Stanley like the second coming of Carter himself. Burch has been doing this sort of thing for years — ten years, to be exact, as well as six solo records — but he’s never sounded smarter or more self-assured than he does here. Despite that sepia-toned voice, the man’s no throwback; he’s a true original. With any luck, East to West will find the audience Burch so richly deserves.