i first started paying attention to jim lauderdale about two years ago, and i’m sorry that it took me so long to catch up with him. it is now clear to me that he is one of the more prodigious artists out there, especially in the americana genre. i really loved his album from last year, ‘london southern’, but i think i like his newest even more. ‘time flies’ is a hodge podge of musical styles, incorporating western swing (‘while you’re hoping’, ‘wild on me fast’), psychodelia (‘it blows my mind’), soul jazz (‘wearing out your cool’), and roots country stylings (‘when i held the cards’, ‘if the world’s still here tomorrow’). eleven tracks spanning 38 minutes and each offering sounds completely different and fresh.

the production and accompaniment is flawless. it was recorded at blackbird academy studios, basically a school in nashville that teaches students the ins and outs of how to record and produce music. what a great collaboration.

he also simultaneously released some recently unearthed material that would have essentially been his first album, had he gotten a record deal for it (he didn’t). he had set out to nashville in 1979 to take a stab at meeting mandolinist roland white and make a foray into the world of bluegrass. recorded in earl scruggs’s basement, the tracks that make up ‘jim lauderdale and roland white’ were recently discovered on a reel found in a box by roland’s wife. if you like late seventies bluegrass, then you should check this out. just a couple of lauderdale originals, but an interesting mix of covers, notably donovan’s ‘try and catch the wind’ and gordon lighfoot’s ‘(that’s what you get) for loving me’.

lauderdale is well known in the country and bluegrass writing circles, having written songs for popular artists such as george strait, dixie chicks, george jones, rodney crowell, blake shelton and many more. in addition, he hosts ‘the buddy and jim show’ with buddy miller on my second favorite sirius station, ‘outlaw country’. give him a try.