The magic of Chris Kasper's music appears in the subtle things: stressed words, shifts in strumming patterns, poetic turns of phrase that slip right past you if you aren't listening close. The music itself is a modern Western movie soundtrack. Chris Kasper blends folk and blues in a way that brings together the sounds of the Midwest and the South. The dusty, acoustic Americana guitar playing moves from simple chords progressions and strum patters to light, sensitive finger picking. The fiddle and dual vocals are used sparingly and only ever when the moment is right. Classic themes are woven into the songs. There's heartbreak and redemption; there's home life and running from the law. A highlight of the session is "City by the Sea", a tender blues song with incredible finger picking. The lyrics waver between a love song and a lament of love itself: "Say you love me, say you'll leave me be." It's catchy and meaningful, a song with a moody chord progression that never gives up its truest intentions. Although the structures of the songs remain simple, Chris Kasper shows that complexity isn't the direct path to authenticity. He's singing within a tradition, like everyone is, and Kasper makes sure to put his own mark on everything he passes through.