Jim Lauderdale: I’m A Song

Ever the overachiever, Jim Lauderdale has released his latest barely six months after the marathon arrival of his three new albums in 2013. His prolific prowess is also evident here, with a generous 20 tracks rendered with classic country flair. Still, despite the weeping pedal steel and tear-drenched trappings, Lauderdale’s concise honky-tonk offers occasional tangents, from the easy twang of “Let’s Have a Good Thing Together” and “Doin’ Time in Bakersfield” to the casual croon of “There’s No Shadows in the Shade,” the twilight sophistication of “Let Him Come to You” and brokenhearted ballads like “The Feeling’s Hanging On” and “I Wish You Loved Me.” Several songs already sound like standards, and with heavy hitters like Lee Ann Womack, Patty Loveless and Buddy Miller, excellence is assured.