Album Review: I'm Glad Trouble Don't Last Always by Luke Winslow-King

It's a given that breaking up with your spouse is going to put you through some changes, and it's clear Luke Winslow-King knows all about that. Winslow-King used to be married to vocalist Esther Rose, who was his partner in music as well as life, but the couple divorced in October 2015, and Winslow-King's romantic troubles clearly inspired many of the songs on 2016's I'm Glad Trouble Don't Last Always. That one is called "Esther Please" is a big giveaway, but the dedication to his ex is the real tip-off, along with the note, "Thank you for helping me to better understand the true nature of love and loss.

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Michigan born Luke Winslow-King has made New Orleans his home since the age of 19, when his car full of musical instruments was stolen while parked overnight. Such inauspicious first impressions nonetheless forged a love affair, as Winslow-King found himself stuck in the city for an unplanned extended stay that became permanent by choice. He spent years busking on Royal Street and playing the clubs on Frenchman Street, steadily honing his skills and becoming a key figure among a new generation of young musicians sharing a reverence for tradition with a stylistic restlessness.

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Luke Winslow-King's fifth record turns the devastation and heartbreak of divorce into a raw and inspiring exploration of moving on. Opening track "On My Way" starts with soulful slide licks and builds into an uplifting track with gospel-inspired organ pads. Winslow-King's delta-blues guitar playing shines on this track, and when he passionately croons "Baby, when I'm on my way, you'll never bend or break me," there's a feeling of hopefulness that's utterly infectious.

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