For his 13th long-player, George Ensle distills down to easy essentials. Producer Stephen Doster lets the veteran songwriter’s warm, weathered vocals lead, winding through homespun tales (“Home,” “Ode to Jake”) and folk wisdom (“Gloves,” “Psalm”) with a lived-in earnestness. Warren Hood’s fiddle accents a top-tier session team, and Christine Albert’s backing shades the simple truth of standout “All I Need.”

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This article appears in April 19 • 2019.

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Doug Freeman has been writing for the Austin Chronicle since 2007, covering the arts and music scene in the city. He is originally from Virginia and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Texas. He is also co-editor of The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology, published by UT Press.