Rob Roper

On his last effort, 2011’s Misfit, Rob Roper more than proved that he had sharp songwriting skills and a knack for penning some pretty damn witty lyrics. There’s more of that on the new The Other Side of Nowhere, but musically, this release is more of a stripped-down affair with primarily acoustic instruments, a setting that works quite well with Roper’s writing, bringing his lyrics more to the forefront. Roper says he originally intended to make a duo album with violinist Paul Ermisch, with whom he’s been performing as a two-piece for the past few years, but during the recording process, more players were brought in, including percussionist Daren Hahn. While Misfit might rock a bit more, The Other Side of Nowhere is equally engaging and potent.