CLASSIC ALBUMS - Richard Buckner: Devotion + Doubt

Introducing a new segment - CLASSIC ALBUMS.
Focusing on classic albums in the Alt-Country/Americana genre.

In the first of an occasional series, on this weeks show (21/9/2009) I'll be focusing on Richard Buckner's 1997 release Devotion + Doubt.



Released by MCA it is currently out of print, although of course many second hand copies exist and downloads are available.

This was Buckner's second album following his debut, Bloomed, released in 1994. The songs on Devotion + Doubt deal with the painful subject of Buckner's divorce which he went through at the time and the feelings of sadness, loss and lonliness that followed. Hence they are somewhat introspective, low key and maudlin as a result. The album contains two of my favourite all time Buckner songs, "A Goodbye Rye" and "Lil Wallet Picture" and I'll be giving these two songs a spin during the show.

The album was produced by J.D. Foster, a producer of note who has worked with many artists including another show favorite, Richmond Fontaine. It was recorded in the famous Wavelab Studio in Tuscon Arizona by Craig Schumacher and Nick Luca. Future Calexico members Joey Burns and John Convertino, then in Giant Sand acted as the backing band with Howe Gelb and Marc Ribot. The wonderful pedal steel is provided by Lloyd Maines.

Buckner recorded another album, Since, in 1998 for MCA before being dropped by the label. Now days he is signed to Merge and they released his most recent studio album Meadow in 2006. A new album is expected in 2010.

Buckner's Website
(He is obviously not a fan of illegal downloads! But who is?