Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band

Brooklyn singer-songwriter Kevin Devine has first-hand experience of the music industry’s current state of turmoil. Just four months after releasing his major-label debut, 2006’s Put Your Ghost to Rest, Capitol Records merged with Virgin and gave Devine and other musicians the boot. But at least the album introduced a wider audience to his songs of confession and politics that have drawn comparisons to Smith. Even before his brief affair with the majors, Devine already had a trio of well-received, independent solo albums under his belt — 2002’s Circle Gets the Square, 2003’s Make the Clocks Move and 2005’s Split the Country, Split the Street. Add this year’s excellent Brother’s Blood to the mix, and it’s clear that Devine’s doing just fine on his own.