My favorite album of last year was Jason Isbell’s Southeastern. Â It was an exploration of a man’s demons, some of them intense enough to sometimes weigh in on my decision whether to hit play or go for something a little lighter on the mind. Â Levi Lowrey, with his second, self-titled, album, has also chosen to explore some of his demons. Â In contrast to Southeastern, with its palpitating hope the chamber is empty, Lowrey seems to get the healing that comes with just talking about the pain.
One of the recurring themes on the album is how things are different with Lowrey’s two sons. Â Trying Not To Die talks about how children are fearless and as you grow older you start wondering, “are you living, or just trying not to die.” Â Before the Hymnal Died laments the fact that the upbringing Levi had just isn’t available anymore. Â Perhaps the most telling song in the group is Urge For Leaving, about Lowrey’s father leaving and step-father separating from his mother. Â It’s a fervent hope that the behavior isn’t somehow handed down and that he’ll overcome whatever obstacles he has to for his kids to have the life he didn’t.
Several of the songs are built around more broadly discussed demons. Â Addiction raises its head in I’ve Held the Devil’s Hand. Â December Thirty-One goes through how things can change, for better or worse, and the value of occasionally taking a look back. Â Don’t Blame Me seems an almost tongue-in-cheek commentary on relationships with its admonishment, “don’t ask me no questions and I won’t have to leave.”
 I can’t complete a review of this record without mentioning the last two songs on the disc.  Flywheel starts with a sweet fiddle intro (Lowrey’s first musical love) that then, BAM, goes into a hard rocking instrumental number.  And then seamlessly transitions into the Black Sabbath hit, War Pigs, with the fiddle taking on the screaming lead guitar parts.  The entire album is a fine, fine piece of work.  But if you only have 99 cents, you have to get this Americana take on Ozzy Osborne and his mates.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.