Sleepy John is just Case and his brittle-sounding acoustic guitar, with occasional support from another singer or guitarist (such as Richard Thompson on "Every 24 Hours"). While some — myself included — might miss the Plimsouls, there's no denying the unaffected conviction, indignation, and anger in these stripped-down performances. Case's vocals evoke the anguished drawl of Hank Williams Sr., Dylan's tart humor, and Ramblin' Jack Elliot's ramblin', while his narratives share Woody Guthrie's observations of characters lost in the mythic American Dream. "Million Dollars Bail" is a statement on Los Angeles justice, Phil Spector-style, and "Underneath the Stars" is a matter-of-fact account of homelessness. Festive stuff this isn't, and taken in one sitting the disc is even a little same-y. But if you appreciate songs as societal mirrors and a spare aesthetic, Case is a worthy successor to the hallowed line of politically wary songsters.
