Despite his title and concept, Stace England probably hasnt read Sufjan Stevens press clips, as theres more river town archive rummaging to do. And he probably hasnt heard Stevens either, judging by the flannel swagger, twanged-out blues, and straight-up Scorchers rock (Jason Ringenberg guests on one track) that re-writes a complex but soulful history of southern-midwestern race and class conflict into white lightning. These eleven audio postcards tell of the rise and fall of one town doomed by floods and prejudice, and proceed to rock us right into the present. Equality Opportunity Lynch Mob is withering satire and perfect Beer For My Horses riposte; Jesses Coming To Town captures civil rights iconography via falsetto soul jam; and Buy My Votes is just lowdown blues politics with a mean ZZ groove. Cairo, Illinois is the most fascinating town in America, England kicks off the liner notes. Hes probably wrong, but in a less twee world, hed have the indie kids believing… rocking even.