It’s not often I post an album review on here. After all, these days I don’t do much music writing at all, such a contrast to 30 years ago. But there is something I wanted to highlight, an upcoming release (November 20), All The Day Long Day by fairly local musician Jon Palmer. He’s best-known for touring around with his acoustic band, but this solo release gives him a chance to spread his musical wings a little wider.

It kicks off with the title track, a heartfelt song that’s suffused with the north and working men, with its toast to the unions and cornent adding a touch of the silver band to the arrangement to make it stand out. It’s heartening, a true anthem, and sets the tone for the rest of the disc.

He’s better on the slower material, like “Moonight And Shadows” or “Stay,” the showcase the emotional power of his voice and delivery without ever going over the top, with the arrangements sparse enough to let him shine.

It all ends with “When Winter Comes Around,” with piano guiding the melody on a beautiful song of longing and love. The two best tracks bookend the disc, but what comes between them isn’t at all shabby. The entirety of All The Day Long Day is a winner, a testment to Palmer’s writing and performing skills, which stand second to none. And it’s impossible not to warm to any record with a song about Virginia Woolf (to tie this to a writer’s blog).