In the past, Lew Card’s tunes were workmanlike at best. Follow Me Down ups his game to the point of comparisons to names like John Prine and Hayes Carll. Along with producer James Stevens (of Moonlight Towers), Card works the Texas side of roots-rock by combining the easygoing and the gritty. That results in a sonic throwback to the Seventies, with horns and harmonica adding flavor while Card sings of Austin gentrification (“Condo Town Rag”) and the meaning of liberty (“Do My Own Thing”). Originally from Tennessee, Card’s all Texan now.

***.5

This article appears in January 29 • 2016.

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