LUKE DOUCET AND THE WHITE FALCON - Blood's Too Rich

A roots songwriter blessed with hiccuping, switch-blade guitar chops, Doucet is not concerned with innovation. His craft is a refinement of the pop/country/folk canon populated by Gram Parsons, Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young, and, perhaps most crucially, local heroes Blue Rodeo. And much like, say, Josh Rouse, his unfailing tunefulness and precision can sometimes obscure what good songwriter he is. And he is very good. Aside from a surprising cover of The Cure's "The Lovecats"--which nudges the tune gently into rockabilly territory--Blood's Too Rich stays his solid course.