Raised in Van Zandt County in East Texas, Vincent Neil Emerson honed his songwriting and performance skills in the Fort Worth area and later making his way to national tours with the likes of Charley Crockett and Colter Wall, drawing in fans with every performance due to his straightforward truth-telling. His self-titled sophomore album, Vincent Neil Emerson, is released via La Honda Records/Thirty Tigers...

Modern country albums, while staying true to their roots, are a million miles away from the genre's origins. Vincent Neil Emerson is a little bit country, a little bit folk but what shines through are the stories.

Citing heroes such as Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clarke and Steve Earle, Emerson says, "I think I’ve always gravitated towards artists that are honest about what they're doing. It's the most important thing because people have a chance to connect to a little more if you're telling the truth. Songwriting has always been a therapeutic thing for me. So, I just started writing more from the heart.”

The resulting 10 songs (36 min, 07 sec) strip Emerson bare, putting him in a vulnerable position. A very brave and confident move. While fresh and up-to-date, there are tracks that you'll instantly feel nostalgic about - 'High on the Mountain' being the most obvious.

This is wonderfully produced modern country folk album that is certainly worthy of your time.

8

Nick Smithson