Founded in 2006 in Lubbock, Texas, Josh Abbott Band released their first album, ‘Scapegoat’, back in 2008. Since then they’ve been wowing audiences on both sides of the pond with their traditional country sound and spirited live performances, including performing at the Long Road Festival last summer. Now they’re back with their seventh record, ‘Somewhere Down The Road’, the follow-up to 2020’s ‘The Highway Kind’.
The 12-track project kicks off with an extended intro to ‘Astronaut’ featuring shimmering, discordant fiddle which gives the song an almost mystical quality, before kicking into a stomping rhythm with twangy vocoder-style vocals from Abbott. It jolts you awake (not least because of the swearing!) and there’s a slightly rough quality that I haven’t encountered with the band before. Abbott paints a detailed picture of a man trapped in a boring summer job who dreams of escape, whether that’s jetting off into space or winning the lottery, and there’s a very bombastic feel to the whole thing as well as some great turns of phrase in the lyrics (more on those later).
One thing Josh Abbott Band always does well is their musicianship and that really shines through on this album once again. Adam Hill’s fiddle playing is a huge highlight, whether that’s the lively melody of ‘The Sale’ which contrasts its bittersweet lyrics and Abbott’s subdued delivery, or the smooth, rich quality he brings out on ‘She’ll Always Be’, a warm, soaring portrait of an elusive woman ‘in the middle of a song she’s still writing’. The group also explores a wide range of styles and sounds on this project, whether that’s the 90s/00s teen drama vibe of the reflective yet open ‘Guilt Of A Man’, ‘What Were You Thinking’ with its marriage of dreamy vocals and classic rock guitar, or the 70s funk feel of the swaggering ‘Barstool Boys’ which references Carhartt shirts and ‘county spinning on CDs’ in a drinking establishment that’s so vividly painted you feel like you’re right there amongst it.
Elsewhere, another striking feature of this record is the smart lyrics that pepper the tracks. The title track, an homage to the life of a travelling musician, namechecks Jack Daniel’s and Fleetwood Mac, with a raw, weighty quality to Abbott’s performance and a wicked bluesy guitar riff. I also loved the specifics of ‘Back To Normal’, a message about appreciating the simpler things in life with nods to ‘Highland Hills Drive’ and family move nights that conjures up a world of cosy domesticity, as well as the lush barroom romance of ‘Closer To You’ with its sensual verses and big rollicking chorus, and drinking anthem ‘Unplug The Jug’ which hits the perfect balance of anthemic, celebratory and mellow all at the same time.
The album closes with ‘Brutus, Judas And You’, a fiery, fast-paced breakup song with a clever twist as Abbott calls out his former lover by comparing them to legendary traitors. It’s a fun and different take on the idea with a really lively quality and plenty of oomph. I felt like it really elevated the record as a whole, providing a highlight of the project and ending it on a note that leaves you feeling energised and wanting more.
Overall Josh Abbott Band have produced another strong effort, with some very intelligent writing throughout, fantastic musicianship and an interesting insight into where they might go next. Although it does run the risk of feeling a little samey in parts, the back half of the record in particular really lifts it with its more experimental feel and shows that they’re still willing to try new things after almost 20 years in the business. I’m sure these songs are going to sound great live and will definitely be keen to hear them if they make it back to the UK soon!
Track listing: 1. Astronaut (Intro) 2. Astronaut 3. The Sale 4. What Were You Thinking 5. Guilt Of A Man 6. She’ll Always Be 7. Somewhere Down The Road 8. Back To Normal 9. Closer To You 10. Unplug The Jug 11. Barstool Boys 12. Brutus, Judas And You Record label: Pretty Damn Tough Release date: 26th January 2024
