Style: Singer-songwriter Americana; compare to Griffin House, Amos Lee, Andrew Bird
Top tracks: "Darkness to Light," "Why'd You Let Me Go Cold," "Coming to the Heart of Me"
Since 2011's breathtaking I Have Not Seen the Wind, Alligood claimed NPR Mountain Stage's heady grand prize, resulting in this ten-song masterpiece. Boasting thicker instrumentation and more decided production than past efforts, Needle gives the subtle singer-songwriter more commercial punch. But for the fine-tuned listener, plenty of Alligood's poetry exists just beneath the surface—the earthy lyricist's pointed verses ("All this fighting' it ain't nothing but a symptom of our sickness / And we still ain't found a cure") coated in such hauntingly sparse melodies they seem nearly sacred. Needle is another lovely folk challenge from Alligood.
While we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
As my doubts about his teachings grew, so did a secret fascination with Jesus.
Christians can disciple each other toward action, prayer, and hope.
