
Sidelong
180 gram LP with digital download card.
"I simply cannot imagine a better time to be an independent woman fronting an outlaw country band than right the fuck now.”
Rowdy punk rock insolence to the right, a bottle in a bag; organic three-chords-and-the-truth frankness to the left—one eye in the rearview mirror and one eye on the rough road ahead. Sidelong is a record that will make you sit up and take notice. This is a new voice for a new country.
North Carolina’s Sarah Shook sings with a conviction and hard honesty sorely lacking in much of today’s Americana landscape. Sarah Shook & the Disarmers has been covered by the likes of No Depression, Independent Weekly, and Rolling Stone, with the latter including the group on their July 2016 list of "10 New Country Artists You Need to Know."
The versatile guitar of Eric Peterson roams wide but never steers into the ditch. At times, it’s as simple and muscular as Luther Perkins’ boom-chicka-boom, or as downtown as Johnny Thunders (check those greasy riffs in “Nothing Feels Right But Doin’ Wrong”). There’s the chugging indie-rock snarl in “Heal Me” and the big sky horizon of a Cormac McCarthy western in “No Name.” "Keep the Home Fires Burnin'" shows an edgy Buckaroo mettle with the wicked lap steel work by Phil Sullivan. "The Nail" is a dark-souled garage rave-up with the swing of the Old 97's and the backbone of Bob Wills, courtesy of John Howie Jr’s on the money drumming. Aaron Oliva keeps the tempo of the band's live performances on track with the sonic growl of his upright bass. The Disarmers keep in the pocket, tight and tough.
Sidelong is a record that will make you sit up and take notice. This is a new voice for a new country.