We set our sights here on an album which was originally released back in 2006 and then kind of disappeared. It’s popped back up into view due to a vinyl pressing by the UK label Unspun Heroes whose raison d’etre is, to quote, “To go on a musical adventure of reissued vinyl. Releases happen in small batches, limited to no more than 500 pressings… the label has a guiding principle: to find and highlight music deserving of wider attention. It does both of these things with a love for the vinyl format and the music itself.” You can read more about the label here.

As to why Simmons was selected for such a venture the label doesn’t say but after a couple of listens it’s clear that they have done the public a service in highlighting Drink Ring Jesus as it’s quite a compelling listen. Simmons is a singer/songwriter from Tennessee who currently resides in Nashville and who has several albums under his belt. This was his second release and it’s a truly solo effort featuring just Simmons’ guitar, voice and harmonica. He credits Springsteen’s Nebraska as an influence here but it’s Steve Earle who casts a longer shadow due to Simmons’ occasional vocal similarities. As such it’s not a party album, rather it’s one to be contemplated on and delved into as Simmons reflects on his upbringing within a strict religious community along with his reaction to the then recent events of 9/11, both conflated within the opening title song. Simmons explains in the liner notes how he was trying to avoid the non-stop news footage of the Twin Towers but eventually succumbed while having a couple of whiskeys whereupon he noticed that his drink had left a stain on his coaster which “revealed itself as a drink ring pattern that so looked like Christ that it spooked me.” We suppose stranger things have happened but this happenstance moment laid the ground for the album.

Jesus, and his supposed followers, feature in several of the songs here. Devil’s Work Is Never Done reflects the notion of opposing religions at war despite fewer folk actually practising their religion while Time To Pay tackles the dichotomy between love and revenge inherent in Christian teachings and Carpenter Skills takes us back to basics, Christ as a simple carpenter and not the vengeful deity championed by those in power. This last song is quite masterful, replete with wheezing harmonica and halting guitar. There’s a crossover of sorts on You Give Us, written by Simmons aged 33, the same age he notes as Jesus was when he “transformed on the cross.” A wonderfully delicate song which humanises the biblical story it finds Simmons losing his religion but trying to find his spirituality. There’s no real resolution here but the closing song Long Way To Go tries to simultaneously untangle and unify opposing beliefs and all the different names for God, basically saying that we’re all in the same boat. On a more secular note Simmons gives us an alternative mode of worship on the excellent Crying Elvis where he notes that pop culture icons have become our modern day gods.

Drink Ring Jesus is a stark yet warming slice of a man’s soul, masterfully delivered. This vinyl reissue is quite the delight but is strictly limited. You can grab one here and it’s also available as a download. Whatever your preference it’s well recommended.