The new song by Chris Scruggs threw me for a loop. It wasn’t at all what I expected. In the past I had Chris (who is the former frontman of BR549) pegged as a neo traditionalist content to put out twangy honky-tonk and nothing more. But the guy is young and talented and is setting off in new directions on his new record Anthem. He’s enlisted the help of folks like Howe Gelb (Giant Sand), Nick Luca and Paul Niehaus (Calexico), Don Herron and Harvey Brooks (Bob Dylan), BR549 and Kelly Hogan.

I’m still undecided on this one song from Anthem. But I appreciate what Chris Scruggs is trying to do in his attempt to redefine the sound of roots rock. Buy it here directly from Chris Scruggs.

Josephine