My favorite Australian singer/songwriter recently released another new album titled Dark Shades Of Blue and it's everything I wanted it to be - complete with a few surprises. Anyone who hasn't figured out that I like Xavier Rudd shouldn't have to look much further than this post. Indeed, Rudd's latest album combines the feel-good live sound he's come to embody and runs it headfirst into a depper, darker emotional beast. The album title Dark Shades Of Blue acts as a fine precursor to Rudd's most emotive album yet, it's dark in a good way that only Joe Barresi (Queens Of The Stone Age, Tool) proved capable of harnessing without harming Xavier's warmth and appeal.

[MP3] Xavier Rudd - Home

Even though many of Rudd's new songs have taken on a deeper sound, one that is a departure from previous upbeat melodies found on older albums - they've now grown in length, blossomed in musical expression, and leave a more sustaining sound. "Home" is one of the more memorable songs I've heard from Xavier Rudd - developing over the course of five minutes which allows Rudd to expel sound lyrics in an inflection he embodies perfectly. If you have a chance to catch him live, don't pass up a surreal experience.