Live At Landlocked

Initially released as a limited-edition vinyl LP in support of Record Store Day, Live at Landlocked is Seattle-based singer/songwriter Damien Jurado's first official live album. It was recorded at Landlocked Records in Bloomington, Ind., on June 13, 2010. Jurado was touring in support of his excellent studio album Saint Barlett, and the setlist reflects this; he played five of the album's highlights, as well as tunes that were written near the album's completion but were too late for inclusion. Jurado's prolific nature doesn't water down the results. "Thax Douglas #1," "Diamond Sea," and "You for a While" are as commanding and intimate as the ghost rattle of such compelling official album cuts as "Kansas City" and "Harborview." Jurado's at his best as a solo artist. Stripped to just acoustic guitar and vocal, there's nowhere to hide or to obscure the lyrics. The simple ache in his voice is worth even more than the heartbreaking tales he tells. The between-song banter is kept to an informative minimum, and the sound is excellent; it's a front-row ticket to the best show in town.