Norman Blake

On its surface, Whiskey for Breakfast is perfect for Saturday mornings at the country cabin. Blake's thin, airy voice and light country-folk style trigger an inner melancholy that's quite comforting. At the same time, the guitarist's multilayered picking possesses a dynamic energy that definitely makes its presence felt, though it never overpowers the album's overall tranquility. This balancing act is a part of Blake's renowned aesthetic, but it reached perfection on Whiskey for Breakfast.