Jim Lauderdale Game Changer (LP)

(Sky Crunch Records) 12 tracks

The 35th album from the Americana star and two-time Grammy winner is pure country music gold.

"It's a constant challenge to keep making better records and writing better songs. I still feel like I'm an evolving artist," says Jim Lauderdale. This may seem a surprising statement from a man who has won two Grammys, released 34 albums and won the Americana Music Association's Wagonmaster Award. But the upcoming album, "Game Changer," is compelling evidence that the North Carolina native continues to hone his craft.

From rollicking guitar riffs on "That Kind of Life (That Kind of Day)" to the slow, sweet harmonies of "I'll Keep My Heart Open For You," "Game Changer" showcases Lauderdale's ingenuity as a singer, songwriter and producer - while restoring him as one of Americana's staunchest champions. "Country music is always evolving, but I'll always have a soft spot for steel guitar and a Telecaster," he says. "I did my work with this record when people who love classic country feel they can put it on or have it in their collection, and it fits right in."