Malcolm Holcombe is gravel-voiced American folk singer who oozes authenticity.
His slurred and grizzly delivery is of a man not inclined to suffer fools gladly nor much given to taking shit from anybody.
Pretty Little Troubles is his 15th album and the fourth of his I've reviewed. It's hard to point to any major differences between this and his previous work but that's not such a bad thing.
Being rooted in the blues, there is nostalgia and sadness but his sardonic view of the present means that he's not an artist content just to look backwards.
Aged 62 (going on 100) Holcombe is no spring chicken but he conveys the resolute pragmatism of an artist who keeps on keeping on, telling it the way he sees it and not really caring two hoots whether you share his perspective. "All I know, all I am, don't matter anyhow" he sings matter of factly on Rocky Ground
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The titles of the first and last tracks encapsulate the man's perspective and determination to continue - track one is Crippled Point Of View and the closing song is called We Struggle.
Malcolm Holcombe's website
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