I certainly hear echoes of Taj Mahal, on an acoustic ballad, with that brushy drum shuffle behind, and this is a nice case of not having to do too much. The acoustic guitar is front-and-center, with some sweet bottleneck lead over the top.

With so few elements, it can feel so personal, and that husky voice is almost too good, in a Kelly Joe Phelps sort of way. Thankfully, the feel is too nice to be angry about, and you are left with an appreciation for the infinite staying power of heartfelt vocal delivery and slide guitar. Hey Now Baby, the latest blues croon from Eric Long, doubles as a lullaby for your broken heart.

With influences ranging from Mississippi John Hurt and Taj Mahal to progressive musicians like Charlie Parr and Jack White, Eric Long’s music is fundamentally folk-inspired, and timelessly steeped in some of America’s earliest musical roots. He plays the resonator guitar with a bottleneck slide, the acoustic guitar and the banjo. This song is featured on our Rainy Day playlist.