Keven Louis Lareau – “Sometimes Lover” 
I’m always happy to shine a light on another track from RSTB fave Keven Louis Lareau, and this one comes with the added pleasure of announcing a new endeavor from the good folks over at Torn & Frayed. If you’re not locked onto Mark’s stream of mixtapes that center on Cosmic Americana, then it’s about time to dip in — the sooner, the better. While you’re at it, check out the new cassette, Torn & Frayed Presents… Prairie Biscuits. Following a double dose Japanese Country, psych, and folk that made it to tape, sold via T&F’s Instagram, the outfit offers up its first Bandcamp release. Prairie Biscuits finds a stacked roster of RSTB favorites taking aim at lost country classics from the cutout bin, scouring the Salvation Army for a few choice cuts. Alongside Keven, the tape features Doug Tuttle, Credit Electric, Seawind of Battery, Pearl Charles & Michael Rault, Spencer Cullum’s Coin Collection, Bobby Lee, and a ton more taking aim at some of their own favorite lost gems, ranging from Ernie Graham to Chris Darrow, and Help Yourself to Greasy Bear.
Lareau offers up a deep cut curio, taking on a tune from the ’77 debut from Missouri Rain. The band issued a trio of LPs on local label History Records, capping around the early ‘80s. Their final album featured Elaine Fender who was notably also in cult country group Jimmy Carter and Dallas County Green. “Sometimes Lover” is one of the band’s best, a wounded, lovelorn song centering on figuring out the permanence of a relationship. Lareau gives the cover his usual dose of cosmic glow, as he’s done in the past with works from Ernie Graham and his own growing catalog. It’s just one bright spot among many on the new compilation, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. The tape is out today from Torn & Frayed.