Roots singer/songwriter Chris Smither has been recording music true to the blues and its offshoots since most modern performers were in short pants. His experience shines through in the ease of his surroundings. His 12th studio album is also the first to feature only Smither originals, an unusual fact considering his songwriting talents. A harmonica from Treat Her Right's Jim Fitting drives the title track's down-home feel, while thoughtful fingerpicking adds to the sorrowful undertow of "On the Edge," a tune further enhanced by sawing strings. Cello and violin strategically enhance the songs, but this is mostly an acoustic guitar record that could've been recorded around a fire. "What They Say" adds a buoyant harmony to the sentiment that he's "too old to die young." An older track, "I Feel the Same," circles over an eerie blues lick and years of insight. The passing of time concerns and fascinates Smither, as "Place in Line" presses the point that time waits for no one.