I'm a sucker for songs that tell a story. Ackles' American Gothic paints a picture of an America that most of us can visualise but few know. One can see why Bernie Taupin decided to produce. The backing instruments themselves contribute a rich tapestry, placing us in Mid-West small town America. At times it drags and can be maudlin but it is certainly a stark reminder of what the singer-songwriter tradition can produce. Folk really sounded this original.