The True False Identity [Digipak] (CD - 2006)

Personnel: T Bone Burnett (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 6-string bass); T Bone Burnett (bass guitar); Keith Ciancia, Keefus Ciancia (piano, keyboards); Dennis Crouch (upright bass); Jim Keltner, Jay Bellerose (drums); Danny Moore, Reese Clifford, Sam Phillips , Buzz Clifford (background vocals); Marc Ribot (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Bill Maxwell, Carla Azar (drums).

Audio Mixer: Mike Piersante.

Recording information: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA; The Village recorder, West Los Angeles, CA.

Photographer: Jesse Dylan.

On his first solo outing in the 21st century, producer T-Bone Burnett--best known for his soundtrack work for high-profile films such as COLD MOUNTAIN and O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?--gets back to playing his own original material. Aided by a top-notch band that features longtime friend Marc Ribot on guitar, the Texan singer/songwriter offers up a set of confidently off-kilter songs that touch on his love of vintage American roots music, including the bluesy "Seven Times Hotter Than Fire" and the country-tinged "I'm Going on a Long Journey Never to Return." Clearly at home with dark, brooding material, Burnett uses this talent in a fiercely political way on parts of the album, most notably on the eerily dreamy "Zombieland" and the quietly ominous "Fear Country." Although his production work may continue to outshine his performing career, Burnett reinforces his reputation as a fine, if underrated, artist on this excellent record. minimize