Nathan Salsburg - Hard For To Win And Can't Be Won (2013)

“Hard For To Win And Can’t Be Won” is the second solo album by American guitarist Nathan Salsburg, released in 2013 on No Quarter Records. The record expands on his debut Affirmed, moving beyond solo guitar into fuller arrangements with contributions from Rachel Grimes (piano), Rayna Gellert (fiddle/viola), and James Elkington (dobro). Salsburg’s intricate fingerpicking recalls the American Primitive tradition of John Fahey, yet his compositions are deeply personal, weaving folk influences into lyrical, unpredictable structures. Highlights include “First Field Path”, “Dog At Bay”, and “What Can’t Be Won”, balancing melancholy with moments of brightness.

Tracklist:
1-1 Nathan Salsburg - First Field Path [4:35]
1-2 Nathan Salsburg - Mrs. Gristle's Reel [3:06]
1-3 Nathan Salsburg - Paraffin & Turpentine [3:54]
1-4 Nathan Salsburg - Coll Mackenzie (Archie Fisher) [4:56]
1-5 Nathan Salsburg - Concessions [3:27]
1-6 Nathan Salsburg - Dog At Bay [6:56]
1-7 Nathan Salsburg - Chief Wants [2:17]
1-8 Nathan Salsburg - To Welcome The Travelers Home [5:32]
1-9 Nathan Salsburg - What Can't Be Won [6:36]