Grayson Capps – Songbones

It’s worth asking whether an artist putting out stripped-down versions of previously released songs really adds anything worthwhile. But taking away the energy and elaborateness of band backing can be a good test of a song’s quality. As the title suggests, Songbones is on board with that idea.

The ten-song album returns to a point in Grayson Capps’ career between his blues-rock band Stavin’ Chain and his solo debut. It features mostly Capps’ hoarse, rounded voice and no-frills guitar playing, with melancholic strokes from Tom Marron’s fiddle. Some of Capps’ best songs including “Washboard Lisa”, “Graveyard” and “I Can’t Hear You”, are compelling this way, truly different experiences than they are with his current band, the Stumpknockers.

Thoses three songs alone, plus the deeper emotion evoked by Capps being paired with fiddle, justify Songbones seeing the light of day. But it’s not quite as satisfying as hearing his songs fleshed out.