Strange Americans photo by Scott McCormick
We’re pleased to bring you the premiere of Strange Americans’ music video for their song “No Punches” (watch it below). The track is taken from the band’s forthcoming album Borrow You, Brother, which is scheduled to be released this year.
The band comments on the song:
“Like much of the forthcoming record, ‘Borrow You, Brother,’ ‘No Punches’ explores the relationship between the American Dream and the American Reality. We’re told – either directly by others or indirectly by sociocultural forces – to keep our heads down and work hard, outpace the next guy or gal, to conform to a certain lifestyle, to accumulate ‘stuff’ and have a bunch of ‘things’. It’s a race a lot of us find ourselves in, though very few of us entered into it consciously at the beginning. Few of us question the meaning of work, what purpose that work is meant to serve and what direction it will take us in life.”
Musically, Strange Americans’ third full-length album, Borrow You, Brother remains committed to the general guitar-driven, blue-collar Americana rock element that permeates their earlier releases. This latest album, however, diverges in subtle ways : from the keys to the drums, bass and guitars, the sounds, tones and parts are more explorative. At times this means dynamic restraint, craft, control and beauty ; at others it means total freedom, chaos and noise.
For the better part of a year, the Denver, CO band made three trips to The Echo Lab in Denton, TX, where they worked with engineer/producer Matt Pence (Centro-matic, Justin Townes Earle). Pence’s penchant for the creative process combined with the band’s original vision for the songs drove the tracking and mixing process and resulted in a unique record that is simultaneously novel but grounded in tradition. Lyrically, the songs tend to explore social themes including income and wealth inequality, individual success and materialism, but also work, travel and happiness.
It’s a little raw, a bit loud, unapologetic and honest. It’s blue-collar rock and roll and it’s something that Denver’s Strange Americans are crafting with both brawn and finesse.
In a sense, Strange Americans are rescuing something from the rust pile — straightforward, no-frills rock and roll with a matching aesthetic that is heavy on songwriting and storytelling, presented with reverb-drenched punch and passion — the way The Band or Crazy Horse would have done it.
Strange Americans has two full-length records, A Royal Battle (2012), and That Kind of Luster (2014), along with the 7” Vinyl Places (2015). They have shared the stage with Chris Stapleton, Old 97’s, Zakk Wylde, Guided By Voices, Soul Rebels, Dead Confederate, Cory Branan, Red Wanting Blue, The Mother Hips, Nick Urata (of Devotchka) and many more. The band has also recorded sessions with Audiotree, Daytrotter and Jam in the Van.
Upcoming Shows:
April 01 – Denver, CO at Hi Dive
April 07 – Chicago, IL at The Hideout
April 08 – Iowa City, IA at Mission Creek Festival
Strange Americans:
Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp | Instagram
