Tom Russell, “October in the Railroad Earth” (Proper Records)- Painter, author,acoustic troubadour and all round Renaissance man Tom Russell may have been widely acclaimed as one of the finest songwriters of his generation but for some inexplicable reason he remains a fairly obscure figure as far as the vast majority of record buyers are concerned. This compelling new album represents an excellent addition to the impressive body of work that the gifted Californian has assembled during the past half a century or so, and if you’d like to reassure yourself about the enduring emotional power of the popular song you’d be well advised to lend an ear to affecting narratives such as “Isadore Gonzalez,” “Red Oak Texas” or the Jack Kerouac inspired title track.