While Taylor Swift owned this past weekend and release Friday with the long awaited release of The Tortured Poets Department, there were other albums released last Friday that are worthy of note. One such album is singer-songwriter Elvie Shane‘s sophomore follow up Damascus on BRR Records.

Beginning with the swampy blues cut “Outside Dog” and finishing with the near-perfect acoustic ballad “Does Heaven Have a Creek?” Damascus is an even but ultimately rewarding step forward from an artist who seems to be on the precipice of something truly profound. “What Do I Know” for example is an earnest, open-hearted effort that teems with heartland sentiment and is equal parts relatable, memorable and winning.

The guitar-heavy “Jonesin’” features vocals from Jenna McClelland and feels like a paean to Southern rock. Ostensibly a song about gluttony in all its forms, it’s an uneven effort but not one short on bravado. The swampy blues terrain of “Outside Dog” returns on the gospel-tinged “Baptized” a confident and polished take on mortality and cherishing life’s best moments. Arguably the best song on the album is “Forgotten Man” a blue-collar, top-down, open highway rocker that echoes Springsteen and Petty. A love letter to blue collar workers and an anthem to his workaholic father “Forgotten Man” is a song that has few, if any, flaws.

On the heels of “Forgotten Man” comes the tender and affecting ballad “Pill” an honest, intimate and deeply personal take on addiction that absolutely demands wider audiences. An absolute must listen “Pill” is the surefire sign of an artist realizing his potential and absolutely owning the moment. Teeming with paralyzing honesty “Pill” is arguably one of the best songs of the year in any genre.

The slow-rolling mid-tempo “215634″ is a narrative about an inmate that’s steady, even-handed and memorable. Damascus takes a step backwards on the hillbilly valentine “Appalachian Alchemy” a bass-heavy, spoken-word effort that comes across as a veritable party song and probably translates well on stage but as a studio cut it fails to land. Thankfully Shane returns to glory on the drinking song “First Place” which features vocals from Little Big Town. Rousing and rollicking, it’s a surefire single and damn near perfect.

Shane continues the positive momentum with the piano-laden “Winning Horse” a big-hearted and arena-ready heartland rocker that features some of Shane’s best vocals to date and arguably his most romantic lyrics to date as well. Love songs work well when they sound this effortless. Shane tries his hand at honky-tonk and rockabilly with the raucous, roadhouse stomper “Fan On High” a hip-shaking good time that celebrates Shane’s penchant for sleeping in the nude.

The Jerry Lee Lewis piano fills alone are worth the repeated listen. The swampy, blues vibe that opened the album returns with “Chicken Shit” another nod to his Kentucky roots. While it might be a fun song in concert, it’s another studio cut that just fails to land. Superflous and self-indulgent “Chicken Shit” is proof that Shane is still a year or two away from crafting a masterpiece.

Damascus closes with the tender “Does Heaven Have a Creek?” a faith-based prayer about his grandmother’s passing that will stop you in your tracks. Shane is a gifted vocalist and nowhere does that shine more than here. Shane has already had a platinum single with “My Boy” but with an arsenal of winning tracks here he might be headed for platinum status again. Damascus is damn good and while it stumbles in a few places, the winning moments are titanic. The strength of Damascus should not be understated. Producer Oscar Charles and Shane have crafted something that is equal parts important, intimate and honest.

No doubt about it, 2024 will be a mighty good year for Elvie Shane.