My take on Ry Cooder has always been that he’s an amazing guitarist who does not want to be a guitar hero and he does everything possible to distract from his considerable instrumental prowess.  I pretty much lost patience with this routine when Cooder hit the big time with the Buena Vista Social Club.  I had high hopes for his recently completed California Trilogy, but the music and lyrics just didn’t do it for me.  This next record, and the rootsy mandolin on the first track, make me think I should, once again, approach this master’s work with an open mind.

Record is released on August 31.