"Transnormal Skiperoo" by Jim White (Luaka Bop) - March 4, 2008

On “Transnormal Skiperoo,” Southern troubadour Jim White continues his maturity as a musician, but it’s his ability to tell a story his lyrics that stands out above all else.

On the intensely personal “Plywood Superman,” White sings about his father, who “used to beat on me with his mind not his hands,” and how, even after his death, he can still hear his father telling him “what a useless thing I am.”

Transnormal Skiperoo” is White’s follow up to 2004’s “Drill A Hole In That Substrate And Tell Me What You See.” White is signed to former Talking Heads’ lead singer David Byrne’s label, Luaka Bop.

White has focused his artistic energy, both musically and visually, on documenting life – both his own and those around him – in the south, with all of its quirks and curiosities.

White has collaborated with British director Andrew Douglas to make the BBC documentary “Searching For the Wrong-Eyed Jesus,” which dives into the deep-rooted culture and religion of the South.

As the title of his latest album, released in March, suggests, White sees himself as an outsider, a feeling best described in the song “Turquoise House."

“I’ll never fit in so why should I try? How’m I ever gonna pass for a normal guy?,” White asks in the song. “I can’t wear no suit and tie. Gonna let my freak flag fly. If I walk the straight and narrow one more day, I think I’ll die.”

On “Drill A Hole In That Substrate And Tell Me What You Seem,” White collaborated with Aimee Mann and M. Ward. On his latest album, White again works with a talented group of musicians, including singer/songwriter Laura Veirs.

White’s music, with its banjos and slide guitars, is often categorized in the alt-country genre, but that doesn’t do justice to its brilliant moments of both gospel and gothic music.

His lyrics are filled with religious symbolism, but yet his songs are not preachy. On his Web site, White opens up about the inspiration for each of the 12 songs on his new album.

The album’s opener, “A Town Called Amen,” is a song “about growing old and settling into a sort of tender acceptance of life,” White said.

“How the wild engines run, burning shadows from our minds,” White sings on the song. “Lord, when the purging gets done, I sure pray what’s left behind is a town called Amen. Like a bright-eyed smile from some long-lost friend.”

And on “Jailbird,” a song written seven years ago, White describes himself a man trying to escape the “prison of my own damn mind.”

“This small town crowd will drag you down – can’t leave the past behind. Wipers in the rain tapping out time, coming up on a new state line.”

Download this track now: Jailbird