Ethan Miller claims Mansion Songs is the first in a planned trilogy, of a concept that takes him from rock bottom back to creation. The eight songs here ache with the bluesy-soulful wail inspired by early Black Crowes and the late-‘60s/early-'70s Rolling Stones. These barroom blues, brought to life with acoustic guitars, electric slide guitars, loose harmony vocals, and Meg Baird’s behind-the-beat drumming and vocal harmonies, are gorgeous and desperate; they wail on “Meet Me in the Wheat” and are tender for “Coliseum.” Miller’s heroes are broad. “Ceiling Fan” sings of Werner Herzog, Philip Larkin, and Pablo Neruda, among the saints.