Album Review 'Highway Prayer: A Tribute to Adam Carroll' (Various Artists)

-Tara

​“I try to find moments that are sublime,” says Adam Carroll. “They just last a little bit and then you’re back to your regular life and strife, but there are just these perfect little moments.”

Released on October 28th via Eight 30 Records, Highway Prayer: A Tribute to Adam Carroll, is a labor of love, celebrating a Texas songwriter, a songwriter’s songwriter, who, in just under the course of two decades, has inspired others with his grounded, poetic songcraft. The sixteen track collection features James McMurtry, Hayes Carll, and Slaid Cleaves, among others, who capture the human moments in Carroll’s songs with great simplicity, detail and an emotional depth that allows the listener to become fully immersed in the lyrics of each story.

In addition to the aforementioned, Band of Heathens lend their soulful grooves to “Oklahoma Gypsy Shuffler” while Jamie Lin Wilson offers her pristine vocals on “Hi-Fi Love,” and Scott Nolan and Betty Soo’s subdued harmonies make “Rain” something especially moving. The tribute also includes Danny Barnes (and his banjo) on “Smoky Mountain Taxi”, Jason Eady telling “Errol’s Song” and Mando Saenz taking the listener “Home Again” before closing with the bonus track “My Only Good Shirt,” performed by Carroll himself.

You may not be familiar with Carroll (or many of the artists paying tribute to him here) but don’t let that be a deterrent to listening to, and appreciating, this tribute. Carroll’s songs are vividly told, detailed stories that are personal, relatable, and undeniably genuine. 

RIYL: Guy Clark, Hayes Carll, John Prine

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