Bill Morrissey - Standing Eight (1989)

New Hampshire's leading songwriter Bill Morrissey (no relation to the whiner from the Smiths) continues his tough-minded, soft-hearted explorations on his third album, from 1989. With a supporting cast that includes the cream of new folkies (Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin, among many others, lend hands here) and much more room for electric experimentation than most New England folkies allow these days. Morrissey's 14 originals here showcase his flair for literary detail (he has since published an accomplished novel, Edson), his love for his characters no matter how ridiculous, and his soft, sideways voice, which is like nothing else you've ever heard. --Jimmy Guterman