There are only eight tunes on the record, but they are all wonderful. Townes Van Zandt’s “If I Needed You” gets a spare, forlorn treatment only trumped by the astoundingly gorgeous John Prine/Robert Braddock number “Unwed Fathers.” The former is the sort of song that stays on your mixtapes for months, if not years. Fans of sad, beautiful acoustic songs will swoon hard for this one, even if it’s about men who don’t swoon hard for their baby mamas. Frown.

The two even manage to make “Love Hurts” sound respectable. It’s by no means the highlight, but even camp like that is redeemed by these two talented musicians. “You’re Still on My Mind” is a two-step country song, as well as “Fire Alarm.” Fans of traditional country will have a field day with those, as well as the aforementioned ballads.

Fans of the acoustic guitar need this album. That’s all there is to it. I’m guessing you can pick it up when Carrie Rodriguez plays tomorrow at The Blue Door. —Stephen Carradini