This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
American roots-rocker Chris Whitley is the least likely candidate for a retrospective album — and the most deserving.
For the last decade, the Texas singer-guitarist has been toiling away in near-total obscurity, crafting gorgeous, haunting albums that are adored by the critics and cognoscenti but ignored by the public. If you haven’t been paying attention, Long Way Around is a great chance to play catch-up. This 17-cut anthology cherry-picks 10 essential tracks from Whitley’s seven albums, along with seven demos and unreleased tracks. Stylistically, these cuts run the gamut from National Steel acoustic blues (Home Is Where You Get Across) to gritty post-grunge rock (Narcotic Prayer) to textured U2 electro anthems (Weightless) — but his plaintive, Robert Plantish vocals and sinister guitar attack are the thread that joins it all together. Do yourself — and Chris — a favour and make a beeline for Long Way Around.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKPBFvw80N3_VEXGGwuqDi9Q6C0qLbQ6W
