Album Review: Billy Bragg & Joe Henry - Shine A Light Field Recordings From The Great American Railroad

21 September 2016 | 3:53 pm | Liz Giuffre

"The occasional rumble of tracks or passengers can be heard if you listen hard."

Travelin' songs should be a genre of their own - a problem Billy Bragg and Joe Henry have sought to address here with this collection of songbook covers. Think Hank Williams and keep going.

These songs were recorded while Bragg and Henry rode the railroad across America and the occasional rumble of tracks or passengers can be heard if you listen hard. The character of their harmonic voices (which also rumble around) and the simple, jangled guitars draws you in. It's hard to pick a favourite (The Midnight Special and Lonesome Whistle, if one must), so just turn on, tune out and drift away.