(Kemado) www.kemado.com

A few years ago, Langhorne Slim’s career seemed poised to take off. Then his record label folded, essentially silencing him for two years. His latest album is one hell of a welcome back. Produced by Josh Ritter’s keyboardist/producer Sam Kassirer, Langhorne Slim & The War Eagles has the same sense of rollicking fun and cutting insight that informed the best tracks on The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter. Slim’s voice isn’t as strong as Ritter’s and he doesn’t have the same sense of always being in control – “She’s Gone” and “Tipping Point” sound like they could go off the rails at any moment – but that only makes him sound more alive. And when he tones things down for a ballad like “Diamonds and Gold” (“You can have all the diamonds/You can have all the gold/But someday you’re still gonna get old”), it’s clear that he knows exactly what he’s doing. It’s good to have ya back, Slim.

Standout tracks: “Restless,” “Diamonds and Gold” HAL BIENSTOCK