Relix: Demons review

Cowboy Junkies: Demons

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The second installment of Cowboy Junkies’ Nomad series, Demons delves into the catalog of the late singer/songwriter Vic Chesnutt. The resulting 11 tracks are intense, soulful, joyous, uplifting and heartbreakingly sad. The band excels here, pulling out the nuance in Chesnutt’s often dark writing and capturing his spirit while simultaneously making the songs its own. Plunging into Chesnutt’s emotional depths couldn’t have been easy—even Margo Timmins’ commanding voice sounds raw and ready to crack at moments—but “Flirted with You All My Life,” “Supernatural” and “See You Around” expose the demons (death and suicide) Chesnutt battled his entire life. On the other hand, “Betty Lonely” (profiling an old lady’s life obsessions) and “West of Rome” show Chesnutt’s eye for life with beautiful, haunting clarity.