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COLLIN HERRING Past Life Crashing (self)

(NODEPRESSION.NET) -- Fresh off a couple of stops in rehab, Fort Worth's Collin Herring releases his third album, an unflinchingly autobiographical journey through the heart of a troubled songwriter. Not surprisingly, the material here is much more somber (and sober) than that of his fantastic sophomore effort, The Other Side Of Kindness, but the lower volume doesn't necessarily mean less intensity. "I listen to you, but you don't listen to me/Now I'm beside myself," sings Herring on "Beside", one of several remorseful ballads that examine loneliness from unexpected angles. The rocking "Yard Cars" is more akin to Herring's earlier work, a glorious mix of Husker Du and Merle Haggard topped off with his sneering vocals and his father's aching pedal steel.

-- DARRYL SMYERS
Copyright c. 2008 No Depression Inc. and/or Darryl Smyers.