Singer/songwriter Steven Ross Jahn has a voice that can warm polar caps. Just listen to him croon on the heartbreaking "I Saw Your Picture in the Paper." His voice is fragile and bittersweet, capturing the deep-seated ache of a wounded soul. On "South Texas Wind" (http://cdbaby.com/cd/srjahn4), Jahn takes country back to the late '70s and early '80s, when the genre traded kisses with the easy listening format.
Fans of Kenny Rogers and even Dan Fogelberg will have much to relish on this laidback, hopelessly sentimental record. One of the most appealing aspects of Jahn's songs is that his singing is so clear; his vocals thrust in front of the mix, you hear every word of his lyrics. Oddly enough, the years of hearing incomprehensible tunes makes Jahn's clarity startling. You forget how straightforward music used to be.
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"I Saw Your Picture in the Paper" is a classic country tear-jerker; it's about a man who discovers that an old flame has married somebody else. You can feel the sorrow in Jahn's voice; the agony is real. The track is reminiscent of Bertie Higgins' "Key Largo," at least in terms of feel. Another moving cut is the title track, which has the lonesome spirit of Hank Williams, Sr.
The hipsters among you may scoff at the old-fashioned styles at play here, but Jahn's sincerity comes across well. These are songs about love and life that are charming and without pretensions. The album closer, "Santa Bring My Daddy Home," will make the most stone cold among you grab a handkerchief.
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