In his 4th release, industry veteran Cody Lee (Peter Green, The Dictators, Joan Jett...) serves up a mesmerizing release that explores the Covid driven strange times we are living in. Stylistically it ranges from warm & folky in California to hypnotic, Leonard Cohen inspired styling in tracks like New Normal. The common denominator in this disperate mix is Lee's laconic, yet intriguing vocals that are guaranteed (almost) to catch your ear regardless of whether he's channeling Glen Campbell in California or David Johansen in Nobody. As such it would play well in Indie & Americana themed shows.

RIYL: Leonard Cohen, JJ Cale, New York Dolls (sic)
FCC: #5

1 New Normal - spooky guitar, funky horns, syncopated beat and L. Cohen styled vocals (med, 3:21)**
2 Bad Things Happen - slow & wistful contemplation on the vagaries of life with captivating piano break (slow, 3:22)***
3 Nashville - slow slide on this celebration of troubadours trying to make it in Music City (slow, 3:27)***
4 Ruin - spare & haunting with unique vocal layering & backing guitar (med, 3:31)**
5 Drowning - dystopian story of the decline of western civilization (slow, 4:17) FCC
6 Be Tonight - spooky instrumental set mood for this breakup song (med, 3:47)
7 California - americana/folk styled ode to the Golden State with nice orchestration (slow, 4:23)***
8 Nobody - powerful intro on this nihilistic, uptempo post-punk rocker reminiscent of the New York Dolls (fast, 3:52)***
9 Goodnight - wistful & jazzy, acoustic bass lets his baritone vocals shine ala Mose Allison (slow, 3:23)***