The Nomad Series, Volume 2: Demons

Demons is the second installment of the Cowboy Junkies' ambitious four-album 'Nomad Series,' released in late 2010. The project was born from the sudden death of their close friend and collaborator Vic Chesnutt on Christmas Day, 2009. Originally intended as a collaborative effort where Chesnutt would write and the Junkies would serve as his backing band, the album shifted into a tribute following his passing. Recorded in just five days, the album captures a raw, immediate emotional state. The tracklist pulls from various eras of Chesnutt's career, including 'West of Rome' and 'Flirted With You All My Life,' the latter of which takes on a chilling new resonance in the wake of his suicide. Critics, particularly at AllMusic, praised the album for its respectful yet transformative approach, noting that the Junkies' signature slowcore aesthetic was a perfect match for Chesnutt's idiosyncratic and often dark Southern gothic compositions. It stands as one of the most cohesive and emotionally resonant entries in their later discography.