All the Fame of Lofty Deeds (Bloodshot, 2004)

Jon Langford is nothing if not prolific. In between making music with the Waco Brothers, the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, the Sadies, the Mekons, Sally Timms andothers - not to mention his painting (featured on the CD cover) - Langford took time to put out, by Bloodshot's count, his second solo album.

Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, "Lofty Deeds" does not necessarily live up to its name, but it is a pleasurable performance by the always reliable Langford nonetheless. You get Langford's thoughtful political and social commentary on songs like "The Country is Young" and "Sputnik 57," fun toe-tappers like "Hard Times" and "Nashville Radio" and even a heartfelt Procol Harem cover, "Homburg." Also included is a updated take of "Over the Cliff" released previously on a 1994 Bloodshot compilation and perhaps better known as performed by the Old 97s on "Wreck Your Life" (with Langford's help). Langford gets help from the Cosmonauts on two tracks, including the just-right, album-ending live reading of Bob Wills' classic "Trouble in Mind."