Though you may have never heard of Baerwald, chances are you've hummed along to one of his tunes. He first surfaced in 85 in the one-off outfit David and David, but is perhaps better known for penning many of the songs on Sheryl Crow's debut, Tuesday Night Music Club. His solo albums have been stellar and I remember an interview with Bruce Springsteen in which he declared Baerwald as his favorite songwriter. I was shocked and delighted when I learned that it was he who wrote the hauntingly gorgeous ballad "Come What May," which was the best song on the Moulin Rouge soundtrack and that's saying something.

Baerwald's latest release isn't as folky as advertised but rather a listener-friendly buffet of Americana, served up in an array of genre's much like his label-mate Ryan Adams. It's unlikely that this record will turn this David into a household name, but it will likely expand his fan-base.