Kitchen Table

The blue-eyed soul journeyman has kicked around quietly for two decades, but a recent TV licensing push has positioned Martin Sexton for a break-out moment. “What crazy stunts will I pull just to see the other side?” he sings on the twangy title-track. As it turns out, nothing too fancy – on this short-but-sweet palate cleanser, Sexton continues down that well-tread dusty road. Throughout, his soothing falsetto effortlessly climbs clouds of 12-strings and steel guitar to pillowy choruses tailor-fit to soundtrack both a Sunday afternoon nap and an upbeat montage on a TV dramedy. Sure, with its glossy production and warmed over lyrics ( “You can’t feel young until you’re growing old,” Sexton philosophizes), Fall Like Rain is a tad lightweight but never at the sacrifice of striking musicianship.