Once again, Guest Ian, you really ought to give Chris Smither a good long listen before you blow him off. He has mastered the guitar styles of Mississippi John Hurt and several others. He has energy. He has taste. He has deadpan humor. He has a great voice and he is absolutely steeped in traditional blues repertory. It doesn't sound like you are willing to listen to him at all, but I shall be listening to him until I have no further hearing. I'm sure you will regard this as heresy -- I like Nic Jones just fine and like listening to him, but I don't think he is God.