Its been seven years since Charlotte, North Carolina, band Lou Ford put out its last record, 2000s buzz-grabbing Alan Freeds Radio, but Poor Mans Soul reminds what all the fuss was about. The four original members return for a fourteen-song effort that sounds gloriously loose and confident, the work of musicians with plenty of post-midnight bar time under their belts. The hard-hitting harmonies of brothers Alan and Chad Edwards are still front-and-center, making the mostly downbeat songs beat you down all the more. Love is a comfort that Ill never know / Heavens no answer for a poor mans soul, the siblings sing during the slow-grinding gospel of Dont Tell Me Now, which is followed perfectly by the hellbound Shallow Ground. The sorry-no-relation rhythm section of bassist Mark Lynch and drummer Shawn Lynch is as right on and tight, as well, brothers. Chad Edwards two fine songwriting contributions, I Never Cried and the Hank Snow name-checking Country Or, are the discs twangiest moments. Last Call ends things on an appropriately defiant note for a brand that simply decided it wasnt quite done yet.