A couple of weeks ago a peculiar but awe-inspiring event happened. Roanoke, VA singer-songwriter Phil Norman emerged from a two decade long absence and released his first solo album since 2000’s Collision. Appropriately titled Folksinger, the album is a warm and winning collection of 11 contemplative folk songs. Featuring just Norman’s voice and a guitar the album mines familiar territory. There’s songs about romance (“Get Your Boots On” + “Whole Again” + “My Whole Heart”) and songs about fatherhood (“Little Child” + “Outgrow Me” + “Sleep With the Light On”) and songs about comfort (“Never Feel Alone” + “Millstone” + “What’s Keeping You”).

That Folksinger is such a winning collection of songs is actually not a surprise. While Norman has not crafted a solo album in two decades he has not been inactive as a songwriter. He served as frontman for bluegrass quartet Blue Moonshine and roots band Appalachian Soul. His time in both bands has served him well and Norman’s vocals have never sounded better. If the album has a lead single it is most likely “Getaway.” Of all the songs on Folksinger none lingers longer after the final seconds than “Getaway.” However if we’re looking for the album’s most sonically resonant cut that title goes to the bluesy “Taking it Slow.” Equal parts sassy, self-assured and sonically rich “Taking it Slow” is Norman at his very best. Vocally he has never sounded better and his guitar work has never sounded more nuanced.

Norman has gone on record as saying that Folksinger was an album made for himself. He does not plan to tour behind the album, has no merch created and didn’t even do a press cycle. At its heart these are 11 songs that have sat with him over the years and he felt compelled to release them to the world. With no real strategy or outreach efforts to back the album, Folksinger very well might just recede into anonymity. Thankfully blog posts like this exist, which will prevent exactly that from happening.