Paradise Hotel

“Not nearly as famous as she deserves to be,” is how one online reviewer describes Texas folk-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Eliza Gilkyson. As long as we’re not talking about fame as a curse, then I would absolutely agree. With a voice and style somewhere in the area of Lucinda Williams-meets-Bob Dylan, yet capable of being more gentle and melodious, Gilkyson delivers on her eighth album a powerful collection of songs, all originals except for a moving cover of World Party’s “Is It Like Today.” Her not-so-subtle, righteous rocker “Man of God” (“The cowboy came from out of the west/ With his snakeskin boots and his bulletproof vest/ Gang of goons and his big war chest/ … Gonna blow us all to kingdom come”) features the shimmery fuzz guitar of her brother Tony Gilkyson of seminal L.A. punk band, X, as well as backup vocals by Shawn Colvin, Marcia Ball, Slaid Cleaves and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Gilkyson’s “Requiem,” featuring the delicate high harmonies of Delia Castillo, is exquisite.