*** Chuck Prophet

THE HURTING BUSINESS

(HighTone)

Much like Joe Henry, Chuck Prophet is a rootsy white boy getting his groove on. The San Francisco-based Prophet emerged in the '80s with paisley undergrounders Green on Red, joining the band just in time to help them shift from psychedelic fuzz guitar into more distinctly Americana territory. Though largely relegated to lead guitar back then, Prophet has since proved himself a formidable singer/songwriter. On The Hurting Business, his fifth solo album, he expands on his home brew of country-rock, swamp-rock, blues, and folk, encompassing spaghetti-Western ambiance etched with deep grooves, blue-eyed soul ballads stung with electric guitar, bits of turntable scratching, and liberal doses of Farfisa. Fortunately, though, Prophet doesn't forsake his songwriting while creating these near-cinematic atmospheres. These are well-crafted tunes, with lyrics that match. Prophet tosses them off like little daggers: "Dick Clark's got the tombstone blues" ("Diamond Jim"), and "She don't even know Elvis from El Vez" ("Apology"), certainly grounds for divorce for a diehard music fan. But most striking is Prophet's singing, a full, dusky croon that grows breathy when he reaches for the higher notes. It's a voice that belies his rumpled angel appearance, revealing the devil's glint in his eye.

-- Meredith Ochs