Michael Weston King – The Tender Place: A Collection 1999-2005

The Good Sons, Michael Weston Kings first notable group, were part of the vanguard of the British alt-country scene, though they are represented here by only one track, the wistful 35 Regrets. King has gone on to solo acclaim; The Tender Place serves as a superb overview of his own output. Eight of the eleven songs from A Decent Man (2003) are included as well as seven tracks from the downhearted God Shaped Hole, a Glitterhouse album from 1999. Only one track is drawn from his best release, Absent Friends (2004), but that album actually shares eight songs with this compilation, in different renditions. There are two covers: Bob Dylans Simple Twist Of Fate (originally recorded for a Mojo cover-mount Dylan tribute) and the closing track, Phil OchsNo More Songs. A highlight is Lay Me Down, Westons beautiful, elegiac tribute to his friend Townes Van Zandt.