Chicago singer-songwriter Willis Earl Beal returns in September with a follow-up to his enigmatic debut, Acousmatic Sorcery. The new record, Nobody knows., is the second set from Beal’s 4-album deal with XL, and he’s picked up a few pieces of better recording gear this round than the karaoke machine used to put those initial lo-fi cuts to tape. On this week’s “Too Dry To Cry,” and last month’s taste, “Everything unwinds,” similar influences hold sway: from Tom Waits (by way of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins) to Jandek, Son House to Daniel Johnston. Hear “Too Dry To Cry” — a soulful blues stomp leaning more in the Waitsian direction of “Take Me Away” than “Evening’s Kiss” — above.
