Terry Klein isn't a stranger to folk music, but that's not where he generally wanders. He's more along the lines of James McMurtry or late-80s John Mellencamp, both in his musical expression and his often wry lyrics.

Terry Klein Hill Country Folk Music (self-released)

But Klein is more than a self-effacing raconteur. He skirts darker territory, though sometimes it takes a couple listens to really pick up on what's being said. Klein is solid craftsman, and while I think that occasionally places artificial limits on his ceiling, every song is well turned out.

The playing is expressive and amplifies the themes of his songs. Klein's strongest one are the ones that touch on common country themes (say, the "good old days") without succumbing to nostalgia. "Hopelessness Is Going Around" is a good example of that, echoing Trumpian themes while tearing them down in the same line.

Klein asks plenty of questions without pontificating or proclaiming "The Answer." And he does it with plenty of humor and wry observation. It's clear where his heart lies, but he's generous enough to let the listener into his world without hammering home a vacuous message. Once again, Klein has delivered. A solid choice for early sunsets.

Jon Worley