Peter Case, the former leader of the L.A.-based New Wave band the Plimsouls, has a new album, Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John. A collection of original country blues and poignant, literate ballads, it's as trustworthy and durable as a favorite pair of bluejeans. Case's timeless yet contemporary compositions, performed on solo acoustic guitar with the occasional backing vocal, come off as gracefully aged as those recorded and written by some of his biggest influences - Blind Willie McTell, Lightnin' Hopkins, Dave Van Ronk, and the album’s namesake, Sleepy John Estes.