While it was only two years ago that Tim Showalter, a.k.a. Strand of Oaks, released Eraserland (QRO review), a lot has happened in those two years. Which is why it’s great to see a great singer/songwriter back to his great emotional alt-country form.
Once again, Showalter delivers the modern folk-rock that many people are doing these days, but he does so particularly well. There’s the sweet carry of “Somewhere in Chicago”, while the following “Jimi & Stan” is a soul-moving elegy for his late friends, and for going to shows with his late friends (something anyone who misses their ‘show buddies’ will understand). In Heaven is another dark record, from the resigned opener “Galacticana” to the sad piano finish “Under Heaven”, but doesn’t wallow in it, instead explores it.
While we know things won’t be like they were (they never are), we do want to get back to at least some of what we lost, certainly the bright spots. Tim Showalter’s Strand of Oaks is a bright (dark) spot that is back.