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Ever since he raged in the pioneering Los Angeles punk band X a quarter century ago, John Doe’s weary yet resilient voice has brought soul to whatever style he tackles. Doe croons with authority on this terrific set of classic-country covers (plus a few originals), supported by the nimble Sadies, Neko Case’s one-time touring band. Standouts include the wailing honky-tonk of Waylon Jennings’ “Stop the World and Let Me Off” and Porter Wagoner’s toe-tapping revenge saga “The Cold Hard Facts of Life.” Even purists will applaud his graceful take on the Johnny Cash standard “I Still Miss Someone.”
