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New Single and US Tour Announced For The Decemberists

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After a six-year hiatus from releasing new music, The Decemberists are back with a new single “Burial Ground” out today. With its infectious horns and jangly guitars, the song becomes a hit with listeners right away, as James Mercer of The Shins provides backup vocals whilst lead singer Colin Meloy’s consistently astute lyrics drive the track forward.

Meloy describes “Burial Ground” as “a paean to hanging out in graveyards,

“The melody hook came to me in a dream and I hummed it into my phone on waking. Most dream-songs are bad; this was the exception.” 

In the spring and summer, the Decemberists will embark on a massive North American tour. The tour will begin on April 30th at the Ulster Performing Arts Centre in Kingston, NY and will conclude in August on the West Coast.

Some of the more notable venues are the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre on May 3rd, Chicago’s Salt Shed on May 21st, and Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on May 24th. On August 3rd, the band will play McMenamins Edgefield in Troutdale, Oregon, marking their triumphant return to their hometown.

The Decemberists have been a cutting-edge, exciting, and innovative American rock band for twenty years. The Decemberists’ unique brand of hyper-literate folk-rock was evident from the release of their debut EP 5 Songs in 2001. The band was formed in 2000 when guitarist, singer, and songwriter Colin Meloy relocated from Montana to Portland, Oregon, where he met bassist Nate Query, keyboardist Jenny Conlee, and guitarist Chris Funk. Castaways and Cutouts was the band’s 2002 full-length debut. Following that, they signed with Kill Rock Stars and released the critically acclaimed Her Majesty the Decemberists (2003) and Picaresque (2005), both of which were produced by Chris Walla. The Tain, the band’s 18-minute epic single-track EP from 2004, revealed their lofty creative goals.

With the addition of drummer John Moen, the band’s permanent lineup was complete around this time, and in 2006, they made the surprising move to Capitol Records for their first album on the label. Fans’ fears that the band would stray from their signature sound were allayed with their most daring and ambitious record to date, The Crane Wife. Walla and Tucker Martine, who would later become a longtime collaborator, produced the album, which included a song cycle that incorporated elements of hard rock, quasi-disco, and ’70s prog. The New York Times, Rolling Stone, SPIN, Stereogum, and Pitchfork all gave the album high marks.

After three years, Meloy’s full-length concept album, The Hazards of Love, which was inspired by a stage musical, reached the Top 20. The King Is Dead, their first album to reach number one, was released in 2011. It contained the GRAMMY-nominated single “Down By The Water.” After the success of 2015’s What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World, which featured the single “Make You Better” that peaked at #1 on the AAA radio charts, the Decemberists collaborated with producer John Congleton to experiment with new sounds and production techniques for their eighth studio album, I’ll Be Your Girl (2018). According to NPR Music, “I’ll Be Your Girl captures a collaborative spirit that keeps the band sounding vibrant and alive.” This means that even The Decemberists, a band whose records have always come bursting with verve, need to refresh and reconsider their sound at some point in their careers.

In addition to founding Travellers’ Rest, a festival in Missoula, Montana, that they curate themselves, The Decemberists have performed at innumerable major festivals during the last two decades of their career. You might recognise the band from their appearances on The Simpsons and their work with Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton. They even put out a board game called Illimat, which they crowdfunded. Colin Meloy, who also sings lead, has written several books, including The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid, the Wildwood Chronicles, which were bestselling in the United States and internationally, and two picture books, Everyone’s Awake and The Golden Thread: A Song for Pete Seeger. Carey Mulligan, Angela Bassett, Jermaine Clement, Tom Waits, and Mahershela Ali are among the actors expected to appear in the upcoming animated film adaptation of Meloy’s Wildwood Series.

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Spotlight On…..Sally-Anne Whitten

In this episode of CHQ’s Spotlight On, Sally-Anne shares insights into her musical journey, the inspiration behind her latest album “A Little Too Much”, and the stories that have shaped her career.

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Join the podfather of country music, Adam Simon, as he sits down with the incredibly talented Sally-Anne Whitten on this episode of Country HQ’s Spotlight On.

Sally-Anne, a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter from Tamworth, NSW, has been captivating audiences with her unique blend of country, rock, and blues. Known for her smouldering vocal style and powerhouse performances, she has carved out a niche that resonates with fans across the globe.

In this episode, Sally-Anne shares insights into her musical journey, the inspiration behind her latest album “A Little Too Much”, and the stories that have shaped her career. From her early days performing alongside her father to opening for Keith Urban, Sally-Anne’s experiences are as rich and varied as her music.

Tune in to hear about her creative process, the challenges she’s overcome, and what fans can expect from her new album and live shows. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to her music, this episode offers a deep dive into the life and artistry of one of country music’s most dynamic voices.

Don’t miss this exclusive conversation with Sally-Anne Whitten, only on Country HQ’s Spotlight On podcast!

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Charley Crockett Releasing Follow Up Album

Just three months after releasing $10 Cowboy, neo-traditional country singer Charley Crockett is due to release his second album of 2024, $10 Cowboy Chapter II: Visions of Dallas, on July 22nd.

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Just three months after releasing $10 Cowboy, neo-traditional country singer Charley Crockett is due to release his second album of 2024, $10 Cowboy Chapter II: Visions of Dallas, on July 22, a companion piece to $10 Cowboy, with ten new songs as well as two favourites: “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “How Low Can You Go.”

Crockett also performs a cover of “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky”, which features both on this new album as well as on the Twisters soundtrack, which is released this week and celebrates the music featured in the blockbuster film. His cover of the Stan Jones penned classic honours the original and adds his unique style. Crockett’s expressive rendition brings to life the dramatic images of the song, of cursed animals and phantom riders. This is a spine-tingling trip that carries listeners to the centre of the Wild West and a fresh interpretation of a song over 70 years old.

Crockett continues his successful year by headlining “The $10 Cowboy Tour” at venues including Red Rocks, the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, the Salt Shed in Chicago, the new Brooklyn Paramount, and the Ryman Auditorium.

“We recorded the songs during the same sessions as $10 Cowboy down at Arlyn Studios in Austin,” explains Crockett. “Could have released a double record. But then Taylor Grace wrote ‘Visions of Dallas’ in a hotel room overlooking that city. She thought about my relationship to Dallas and the great state of Texas in general, and suggested we do a second album where all the songs tie back to Dallas and Texas. The result is Visions of Dallas.” 

In the meantime, check out our review of “$10 Cowboy” by click on the link here.

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“Passage Du Desir” – Johnny Blue Skies

Ladies and Gentlemen, please allow us to introduce Johnny Blue Skies, the new incarnation of iconic Nashville renegade Sturgill Simpson, and his new album “Passage Du Desir”

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Ladies and Gentlemen, please allow us to introduce Johnny Blue Skies, the new incarnation of iconic Nashville renegade Sturgill Simpson, and his new album “Passage Du Desir”. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London and Clement House Recording Studio in Nashville, the album signifies the start of a new chapter for the artist, who had previously committed to releasing just five studio albums under the moniker Sturgill Simpson. 

From the very first listen, this new album, the first by Simpson in three years, is once again an intriguing exploration of metamodern melancholy, reminiscent of an early Roy Orbison.

Johnny Blue Skies takes us through grief, previous setbacks, and unreachable ambitions from the moment the pen meets paper on this album. Listeners are left feeling raw, perhaps even vulnerable by the artists intense honesty. As sorrow flows like the Canal Saint-Martin, he presses for admission on “Right Kind of Dream,” using his sublime vocal talents like never before, making this among his most captivating recordings to date thanks to his understanding and abilities of how to use his vocals to convey modern sensitivities.

“You can turn the page or you can light the book on fire and dance around the flames. You can try to live above hell or you can just go raise some. Here’s to clean livin’ and dirty thinking.”

Using a layered effect, Johnny Blue Skies evokes a cosmic remoteness with his softer, exposed voice. As if trying to escape the immense pain, he sounds to be physically detaching himself from it. “One for the Road” transitions from symphonic country-rock to guitars sobbing during the course of its nearly nine-minute breakup song. Think Jim Steinman, but instead of his symphonic power ballads with an operatic rock singer from Texas, his muse would be Johnny Blue Skies, complete with strings and a retro country feel, straight out of Studio B at RCA circa 1978.

His more powerful moments, like the chorus of “Jupiter’s Faerie,” bring out his voice’s imperfections and add depth to the album in the same movement, before “If the Sun Never Rises Again” is chilled rock meets blue-eyed soul allowing us time to rest and reflect before moving on deeper into “Passage Du Desir”.

The album is peppered with rich and lively background music that complements Johnny Blue Skies singing, with his cosmic metamodern theme continuing to feature through songs like   “Mint Tea”, which is inviting and euphoric country music for listeners old and new, while the albums opening track, “Swamp of Sadness,” sets the tone, with haunting accordion melodies and Simpson’s vulnerable vocals. 

Even though it’s not officially an album by Sturgill Simpson, “Passage Du Desir” showcases Simpson’s talent while performing as Johnny Blue Skies. Seemingly heralding a new beginning and a return to metamodern country sounds, his music has taken an alternate trajectory recently, and we as listeners are richer and rewarded by it.

“Passage Du Desir” takes its cue from Johnny Blue Skies and invites listeners to explore the depths of despair, to the point where the album is so good, the sorrow and despair can’t help but be replaced by the unique joy and elation that music can bring. This record will take you on an emotional journey through the complex web of desire and need, regardless of whether you are a complete novice or a lifelong fan. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Johnny Blue Skies has arrived and the world of country music may never be the same again.

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