For his first studio album in over 14 years, alt-country maverick Terry Allen picks right up where he left off, and takes a sparse, spacious approach to his songwriting on Bottom of the World. The usual bass and percussion backing tracks are substituted for cello and fiddle, courtesy of fellow Lubbockites Lloyd Maines and Richard Bowden. Along with his direct lyrical style, these gentler aspects help shape the album into an intimate listening experience.