Porcelain Angel
Shadville, 2025
8/10
This 17th solo album from Rees Shad steps back into Americana and welcomes plenty of guests to the relevant and humble songs.
The cozy acoustic guitar of “Ain’t That Way” opens with vocals from Wanda Houston and Kemp Harris complementing Shad’s wise singing, and “Brighter Daze” follows with Doug Ford’s claps and Jeff Link’s skilled bass that suits the upbeat climate.
Landing in the middle, “Isn’t It A Lovely Day” benefits from Shad’s elegant piano and powerful singing, while the title track pairs the pretty guitar and expressive singing for a bare album highlight of timeless folk ideas.
Arriving close to the end, “Thumbing The Scales” recruits RB Stone’s spirited harmonica, as the setting builds into firmer songwriting, and “Your Last Straw” exits with a dreaminess thanks to Rick Ruskin’s graceful guitar and Natalia Zukerman’s touching lap steel.
Shad has his roots in Americana, and this is a memorable trip there with tender and relatable song craft that embraces blues, jazz and folk qualities that will certainly age well.
Travels well with: Tim Grimm- Bones Of Trees; Kim Beggs- Beneath Your Skin