Wow a press release I can actually use. I’m flabbergasted. None of the CD release lists I peruse had a new Sam Lowry listed (I wrote about Sam here first three years ago) . So this is a complete surprise. Sam pals around with Murder by Death, Langhorne Slim, William Elliott Whitmore, Lucero and O’death and probably listened to a little too much Leonard Cohen growing up. His songs are not jaunty sing-a-longs. More often than not the chorus is absent and rhymes are few and far between.

His new record With/Without is out May 19 on Higher Step Records. He’ll be on tour with Langhorne Slim soon and will release a split 7″ with W.E.W on May 19 as well.

“Manhattan Took Us First” is a reference to Leonard Cohen’s “First We Take Manhattan”. It begins with somber cello and then in comes Sam’s world weary baritone. It’s a modern tale of city life and the pain of anonymity, loneliness and despair.

Manhattan Took Us First

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The new Swedesplease shirts are now for sale here. I’m really happy with ow they came out (I’m wearing one right now!).