Search - Michael Hurley :: Weatherhole

Despite childlike charms that include cute lyrics, blunt honesty, and an affinity for off-key tunes, singer-songwriter Michael Hurley isn't some wide-eyed café crooner. No, Hurley (an outsider folk legend if ever there was one) is contentedly absorbed in his off-kilter universe of "snock," a place where classic blues, folk, and--most importantly--humor mingle. You know what side Hurley's rooting for on "Nat'l Weed Growers Assoc." before you ever hear the tune. "The Rider's Lament" is a cowboy tale like no other. And "Don't Call Me Sam" is Hurley's spin on "A Boy Named Sue" (although it sounds more in-sync with Raffi than Johnny Cash). The album's highlight is "The Rue of Ruby Whores," a simple first-person ditty where Hurley's oh-so-high notes and David Mansfield's mandolin match perfectly. Weatherhole isn't quite as consistent as past Hurley masterpieces such as Long Journey, Wolfways, and Have Moicy! (his classic collaboration with the "Unholy" Modal Rounders). But for fans of folk music of a certain crooked stripe, Weatherhole is certainly worth hearing. --Jason Verlinde