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As an ardent supporter of the well-chosen cover, the recent  onslaught of cover-driven releases (Cat Power, Bonnie Prince Billy) pleases me considerably. Ken Stringfellow’s short-but-sweet EP is no exception. Opening with Judee Sill’s “Crayon Angels,” his take is a deft blend of homage to the original and making the song his own. “Girls It Ain’t Easy” is probably the EP’s least engaging moment, owing more to the Honey Cone version than the one by Dusty Springfield. His choice of Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn’s “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” is initially head-scratching, but I can’t help but admire such a departure from his typical oeuvre. The Long Winters’ “It’ll Be a Breeze” suits Stringfellow so well that it could be confused for an original. Closing with Bill Fay’s “Till the Christ Comes Back” is again perfect measures of the source material and the artist’s own voice. Long live the song stylists!

Standout tracks: “Till the Christ Comes Back,” “Crayon Angels” EDWARD BURCH