Discovering Townes Van Zandt was not something I ever really expected. I’ve always been a fan of folk music, but very picky about country music. Van Zandt blends the two genres in a way that makes you wish you were trainhopping out west somewhere, with nothing but a guitar in hand. On one hand, upbeat songs like If I Needed You and I’ll Be Here in the Morning fill your heart with endearment, but on the other hand, more somber tunes like Nothin’ and Waiting Around to Die express the feelings of sadness and anger that only a lone cowboy would know. 

You will not hear mention of any trucks or football in this album, which is something that I am extremely grateful for. The Best of Townes Van Zandt is magical in the way that the countryside on a sunny day is beautiful, even with the sad sights of dilapidated barns and farmhouses scattered across it.