Richard Buckner: Meadow (Merge)

“I’ve known you from somewhere I was just falling through,” notes Richard Buckner on “Window,” from his eighth proper album. For Meadow, Buckner has paired with producer J.D. Foster for the first time since 1997’s Devotion + Doubt, considered by many to be Buckner’s best work and a record from alt.country’s finest hour. And Meadow is his most robust, fully realized record since. Buckner’s songwriting has never flagged but in instances his records have proved unable to do the songs their full justice. (2002’s Impasse, for example, was solid but found Rick self-producing and playing all of the instruments, and thus lacking that certain spark of collaboration.) This time around, in addition to Foster, who also adds bass, he’s pulled in former Guided by Voices/Cobra Verde/Death of Samantha guitar wiz Doug Gillard along with drummers Kevin March (also Guided by Voices) and Steve Goulding (Mekons) to be part of the band. Buckner has mastered his concise, Texas-bred, high lonesomeness, whereby he’s always conveyed a certain intensity offset by his deep, laidback voice, and it sounds great here. “Town” is a ripping taste of guitar-blasted indie rock while “Kingdom,” with a pounding hoofbeat rhythm, meditates on the nature of time and the burdens that hang down. Buckner’s poetic chops and unmistakable voice are on prime display. With such a great band helping to carry the weight, Meadow is a winner.

Richard Buckner and Doug Gillard play Mohawk Place this Monday, October 9