Roots

The latest CD releases reviewed

TOM PAXTON
Comedians & Angels Appleseed Records ***

Tom Paxton, 70 years young and ever the New Deal democrat, stands tall for the proud, idealistic bunch that were the folk song pioneers of the 1960s. The years have robbed Paxton of none of his sensitivity or his puckish sense of humour, and while his voice may betray the odd quiver, he can still turn a decent tune or three. This collection is a celebration of a  life well lived, with friends and family fondly and sometimes sentimentally remembered. There are songs to Paxton's daughters, mentions of his grandchildren, odes to his wife, and reflections on the "comedians and angels" (including the Clancys) that swarmed around New York's Greenwich Village in the 1960s.

It is solid rather than spectacular, but Jim Rooney's homely production radiates a warm glow. www.tompaxton.com

Download tracks: Comedians & Angels, When We Were Good, Jennifer & Kate

NELS ANDREWS
Off Track Betting Reveal ****

California-born Nels Andrews has travelled extensively the length and breath of his country picking up stories and experiences, which he distils into his songs of atmospheric detail. Andrews is now based in Brooklyn, and his second album is a strong example of new folk. Embellished by Todd Sickafoose's subtle production of gentle electronic twists and turns, these nine songs report from the edge of heartbreak on a world of fevered intensity, often captured vividly by Andrew's colourful Waits-like way with a phrase. "I'm a blind man screaming at the races," he whispers at one stage. Moody, intense, thoughtful and very good. www.nelsandrews.com

Download tracks: Three Days, Dollar and the Dream, Rented White Sedan