Ghetto Bells is Vic Chesnutt's twelfth album to date. A fan of Vic's from the early days, I always held a special spot in my heart for the early-period Vic (especially Little) with its simplicity and lo-fi urgency. With Ghetto Bells, Vic has crafted one of his strongest works in years. In the past, Vic has worked with the likes of Lambchop and Michael Stipe. This time out he has regulars (such as sweetheart and bass player, Tina Chesnutt) as well as jazz great Bill Frisell, multi-instrumentalist and arranger Van Dyke Parks on piano, organ, and accordian, Don Heffington (Lone Justice, Jayhawks) on drums, and other talented folks along with the result being nothing short of magnificent. Frisell and Van Dyke Parks (as well as producer John Chelew) bring a level of harmonic sophistication that only enhances Vic's dark lyrical matter and minor-key presentation. "Virginia" (the album's opener), "What Do You Mean?," and "Ignorant People" are among the highlights of a work better left undissected, but rather taken in as a whole where Southern gothic meets Greek tragedy amidst the kudzu of a close and humid Georgia nighttime. When Vic croons, "You can be forthright with me," there's really no other place you'd want to be. -EDWARD BURCH