There are so many talented young singer-songwriters in Texas that it’s hard to pick who might be the few that will pull out of the pack and actually make a living performing. Many have tried but few succeed due to various circumstances, luck and fate. Mr. Carll, in my opinion, has a great chance of being one of the fortunate few. This is his debut CD, and it is comprised of twelve great songs with lyrics that draw you into a story. He is a country / folk poet, not a cowboy poet but more of a horny drunk poet. Lord, can’t we all relate to that? He was recently named Best New Artist and Best Folk Artist at the prestigious Houston Press Awards.

The Geography of Light features both the luscious acoustic contemporary folk that drew me to Newcomer on her first solo album, Visions and Dreams, as well as the storytelling that brings to life the characters described, as on her last album, Regulars and Refugees. The album also contains songs that focus on spirituality, as she has done in the past. Newcomer's take on modern, progressive spirituality is accessible for people of many faiths, and she approaches it with the same sensitivity that she brings to all of her songwriting. In fact, if one is not paying close attention, the songs seem to stem more from basic human truths than any sort of discernible theology.