After The Morning
Jalopy, 2024
9/10
An artist with roots in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and who take inspiration from Doc Watson, Wyndham Baird make an impression on this debut album, where his finger picking skills are front and center.
“If We Make It Through December” starts the listen with Baird’s warm voice and cozy guitar making for timeless folk songwriting, and “The Girl On The Greenbriar Shore” uses his spirited harmonica amid the meticulous guitar progressions and expressive vocals.
Deeper into the 13 songs, the emotive “The Water Is Wide” tugs on the heartstrings via its bright storytelling and poetic appeal, while “Meet Me By The Moonlight, Alone” welcomes Samoa Wilson’s vocals and Eli Smith’s autoharp for the textured, old time feel of the album’s best.
Close to the end, Smith’s banjo complements Baird’s inviting pipes across the fluid strumming of “Oh, My Little Darling”, and “She Chose Me” exits with time honored folk ideas from Baird’s creative vision.
A first album that runs parallel to Bob Dylan and beat writers, Baird got his start busking, and his instantly memorable folk ways make each song here a treasure.
Travels well with: Aquarian Blood-Counting Backwards Again; Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman- Lady Of The Lake