By all rights, Kentucky-bred Chris Knight’s should’ve become a country music star in the late ‘90s. Unfortunately, the singer/songwriter’s self-titled debut album for Decca proved too edgy for the Nashville mainstream. This back-story adds poignancy to The Trailer Tapes – recorded in 1996, these guitar-and-vocal home recordings reveal how flat-out brilliant Knight was on the verge of his “big break.” Carrying the stinging kick of straight bourbon, these songs are ornery, unvarnished and achingly honest. Knight continues on the hardscrabble tradition of Steve Earle and John Prine, laying down his tales of suffering and survival with a mixture of rage and compassion. His lyrics draw tears and blood – tunes like “Move On,” ”Hard Edge,” ”Rita’s Only Fault” and “If I Were You” are populated by damaged characters haunting the edges of the Heartland. Knight’s twang-laden singing fills his songs with believable grit and a palpable sense of loss. Perhaps the most affecting tune is “My Only Prayer,” an autobiographical sketch of a country boy adrift in the city. Raw but bracing, The Trailer Tapes is a stunning slice of Americana for those who like their country on the real side.