Alastair Moock has built his reputation in the Boston folk scene on a few simple elements: a gruff but tuneful voice, muscular steel-string fingerpicking, and raw, earthy songs. On A Life I Never Had, he brings one quality that was deliberately absent from his first two albums — high-quality studio production — to the table, with excellent results. Because if his previous work showcased Moock’s natural gifts as a songwriter, A Life I Never Had gives his work the sonic sophistication it deserves. He rambles through a broad spectrum of American roots styles, easily assimilating folk, country, blues, and even beatnik jazz on the hilarious "The Word I Said." His lyrics remain at the forefront, but producer/percussionist Lorne Entress helps provide a rich backdrop that includes Hammond organ whispering and mandolins swelling over choruses. Moock calls on Tim Kelly, Sean Staples, and Eric Royer of the Resophonics for ace bluegrass picking, and Mark Erelli and Ellis Paul provide backing vocals for the ballad "The Best Think I’ll Ever Know."