True country songwriters understand that jobs change but people don’t. Case in point: the opening track on Dougie Poole’s latest. “Vaping On The Job” is a swampy tribute to just needing a break from literally everything around you. It’s a feeling written about since time immemorial, as are many on The Freelancer’s Blues, but Poole brings a modern perspective that never feels forced or fake. Rather, these seventies-style country arrangements are tasteful and energetic, while the lyrics about spiritual fads and freelance gigs are full of so much heartache and truth that they help you remember that country was always meant for the working class, no matter what flavor they vape.

– Alex Riggs