by William Elliott Whitmore
On his new album Field Songs, Iowa troubadour William Elliott Whitmore documents a vanishing American landscape with all the heartfelt soul and quiet fury one could hope for. “Heartland firebrand blows fuse, fights for truth" heralded Spin Magazine when describing Whitmore, who utilizes a powerful singing voice beyond his years and a stark dramatic sound rooted in bluegrass, blues and folk protest music. The new songs vividly evoke a life of struggle, humble resilience and family bond inspired by life on his family’s farm along the Mississippi River. Whitmore has made a name for himself both within the punk movement, where his populism and sincerity resonate with alienated urban kids, and the roots community, where writers have placed him within the “new pastoralism” of Bon Iver and the Fleet Foxes. Whitmore has honed his live skills playing with Against Me, Converge, his beloved Pogues among others, developing the ability to quiet a rowdy crowd with just a voice and banjo.
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