Rodney Crowell ruminates on his past with poetic poignancy on the new Close Ties

Few songwriters are able to revisit their past with as much poetic effectiveness as Rodney Crowell, a roots master who regularly reflects on his early days—whether growing up in Texas or arriving in Nashville as a songwriting greenhorn. He does it again on the terrific new album Close Ties (New West), his first new effort in three years and one that stands as tall as anything he’s done.…