I hadn't thought of Slaid Cleaves in a long time, till quite recently in fact. Just now, inspired by this discussion, I was taken aback to find a 2004 CD of his in my collection, which is big enough that stuff gets swallowed up in it if I'm not careful.

In any event, I am a record reviewer, so albums regularly show up unbidden at my doorstep. The other day, Rod Picott's "Wood, Steel, Dust & Dreams," a 2-CD set, appeared. Picott, from the East Nashville scene, is an old friend of Cleaves's, and the songs are collaborations between the two, composed over the years. It's singer-songwriter in approach and practice, but it sounds as if the two actually have heard real folk music. The disc is certainly an improvement on the usual.