Multi-talented singer-songwriter/studio ace/band leader/producer Will Kimbrough is undoubtedly one of the busiest and most in-demand musicians in Nashville – and has been for the last two decades. This month alone, his activities are too numerous to fit into his own website’s news section. Amid all this, his solo career sometimes takes a backseat in the public eye. Sideshow Love is the title of his 7th album in as many years. Kimbrough – who has just turned 50 – has delivered his most consistent and mature – in short: his best – album to date.

In the mid-80s, a very young Kimbrough starting pursuing his dreams as frontman of Will & The Bushmen in Mobile/Alabama. Then he took the very important step into the Nashville scene where the Bis-Quits raised some eyes and ears with their live shows and a strong album on John Prine’s Oh Boy label. Being a lover of all kinds of music from guitar pop to Southern roots’n’roll, he soon became friends with Tommy Womack who he continues to work with in their common project “Daddy”. At the same time, East Nashville cult artist Todd Snider hired him as musical director for his backing band – this led to numerous jobs for the who’s who of off-mainstream Nashville: Kim Richey, Josh Rouse, Matthew Ryan, Amy Rigby, Neilson Hubbard, Steve Forbert, Billy Joe Shaver, Maura O'Connell, Greg Trooper, Kate Campbell, Jeff Black, Tom Russell and others. In the mid-00s Rodney Crowell hired him as lead guitarist, Kimbrough’s most high-profile job so far.

It was followed by other illustrious jobs with Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Rosanne Cash, Jimmy Buffett and Hayes Carll. Equally important for his community standing was his Grammy-nominated work with alt.folk musician Adrienne Young and his production on two Todd Snider albums, East Nashville Skyline and The Devil You Know.

Given this enormous number of credits, it’s easy to lose sight of Will Kimbrough as a singer-songwriter who used to release solo albums regularly early on in his career. This (00), Home Away (02) and Godsend (03), a sampler of unreleased gems, were influenced by indie roots, alt.country and twang pop. Since the ambitious, political album Americanitis (06) that dealt with the American Dream’s flipside, Kimbrough focuses on a rootsy, edgy mix of folk, blues, country and roots rock. EP (07) and Wings (10) followed in a similar vein, as does the impressive Sideshow Love.

While Will Kimbrough recently rocked the Americana world with the debut of Willie Sugarcapps, a great
(mini-) supergroup, his own album with twelve new songs is a relaxed, acoustic, introverted, professionally homemade affair. Kimbrough is an eloquent writer and an excellent arranger who understands the concept of less is more. From the JJ-Cale-like opener 'When Your Loving Comes Around’ through the slide-swamp of ‘Let The Big World Spin’ and the rough-edged rockin’ rollin’ title track to the grand folk blues finale of ‘Emotion Sickness’, Kimbrough delivers impressive songs with finely spun lyrics about love’s mysterious ways, human weaknesses and overcoming the daily challenges. Other strong numbers are ‘I Want Too Much’ with a Richard Thompsonesque acoustic guitar accompaniment, the infinitely sad solo number ‘Has Anybody Seen My Heart?’, the colorful, Band-like ‘Soulfully’ and the country rock waltz of ‘Dance Like Grownups

Dance’. ‘All We Can Do Is Love’ is a bouncy gulf coast, southern blues number that would have fit right in on the Willie Sugarcapps album. ‘I Can Count On You’ is a fine piece of songwriting with wonderfully interwoven acoustic guitars and haunting harmonica fills.

Kimbrough once again proves himself to be a master multi-instrumentalist playing on kinds of guitars,
harmonica, mandolin, banjo, bass, keyboards and percussion. He also shines as a versatile vocalist, stronger than ever. He is supported by co-producer David Henry on cello, the rhythm section of Chris Donohue or Tim Marks on bass, Paul Griffith on drums and exquisite harmony vocals by Lisa Oliver Gray on a number of tracks.

Americana allrounder Will Kimbrough once again delivers proof that “the other part of Nashville” produces outstanding music, a far cry from the country chart drivel. Sideshow Love is an album big on integrity and quality.