Today is my day off. I’ve been sitting around doing not much of anything, but I’m trying to not waste the whole day away. I’ve been listening to a lot of things lately, but I return to this album by Abigail Washburn more than most others.

An Illinois native who plays the banjo and sings songs like the 20th century never occurred, she puts a spell over the listener that takes them back to the good ol’ days.

Anyone that knows me relatively well knows that I’m a sucker for appalachian hillsongs. My dear friends in Chaperone were the first to find out, when I made mention of it in my interview with them in the ladies room at Subterranean. I’ve referenced the movie Songcatcher a few too many times for a normal person (regardless of how much they love Aidan Quinn) and probably gave Emmy Rossum some points in acting ability that she didn’t really deserve (RE: Day After Tomorrow). But the movie does capture a certain something about the music and the people in those appalachian communities that I really enjoy.

City of Refuge has a lot going for it. If you enjoy rootsy Americana, I really think you would love this record. It’s a little short, but it has at least four songs that I think are great, and the rest are all really good. I missed the live show when it came through Chicago a couple weeks ago, which is a shame as she was playing just two blocks from where I live. Oh well, next show will be hit for sure.

In the meantime, check out this video for my favorite song on the record, “Divine Bell.” If you dig it, go pick up a copy of City of Refuge.