(Country Blues | Folk) Ernest Troost - Live at McCabe's - 2011, MP3, 320 kbps

His talent, both as a guitarist and a lyricist, is extraordinary, drawing easy comparisons to Bob Dylan, Chris Smither, Danny Schmidt and Steve Earle. This is no exaggeration. Winner of the prestigious Kerrville New Folk competition in 2009, Ernest Troost is an Emmy-winning (and multiple Emmy-nominated) composer of more than 100 scores for films and television. And this cinematic background is reflected in each of his story songs. His exquisite chord voicings and open tunings are in tune with every turn of the phrase. And his phrases, in turn, reflect a solid sense of drama that keeps the listener mesmerized. I think of his songs as being both "rootsy" and sophisticated at the same time. His music has the simple melodic and rhythmic appeal of folk and country blues, while providing layers of subtle complexities. And his words are laced with irony and insight, sharp observation and pure poetry.
Troost's subjects are often dark, filled with gangsters, murderers and victims of hard times (or their own addictive tendencies). Not surprisingly, many of these stories take place around the Great Depression of the 1930s, including his two Kerrville entries - "Resurrection Blues" and "Switchblade Heart." These stunning songs, among others, reflect that time period with echoes of ragtime and Piedmont blues style guitar picking.