If you’re a fan of Songs:Illinois then you are a fan of William Elliott Whitmore. You must be. No discussion. Not optional.

Thankfully, he’s also about to be discovered by the great unwashed masses. His upcoming record, Animals In the Dark, is on the indie juggernaut known as Anti- Records and is already one of the most exciting releases of early 2009. While it’s too early to draw any conclusions about new directions/sound; it’s clear Whitmore is back with his trademark sound, but with a slightly more political message, especially on “Old Devils”.

Expect the production values to be a little better on this upcoming release, but it’s really amazing what William Elliott Whitmore can do with just a banjo and his whiskey and cigarette ravaged voice. Here’s “Old Devils” off of the new record Animals In The Dark.

Old Devils