For years now, we’ve thought local alt-country singer-songwriter Cory Branan had more of a punk streak than he let on. Not just in the raw structure of his songs, the earnest and unfiltered way he presents himself, or the artists he seems to be palling around with, like Dashboard Confessional and Brian Fallon, Branan has always had a seamless ability weave between scenes and crowds, just as comfortable playing folk songs in a bar, or turning up loud and rowdy for a rock crowd. With his upcoming fifth album, ADIOS, a followup to 2014’s fantastic The No-Hit Wonder, due out April 7 on Bloodshot Records, it sounds like Branan is really tapping into a different side of his sound.
Described as his “death record,” not only is ADIOS raw and personal, but it also features contributions from Deer Tick’s Robbie Crowell, Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace, and Dave Hause; not to totally abandon his country side, though, Amanda Shires also makes an appearance, and Branon self-produced the whole thing in Mississippi.
Following folkier first single “Imogene,” Cory just unveiled another new track, “Another Nightmare in America,” via Alternative Press, and it’s a banger. Featuring Hause and Crowell, the song adopts almost a Gaslight Anthem, folk-tinged heartland punk bent, and we seriously can’t get enough of it. Hear Branan’s new song below, pre-order the album, and tickets to see him April 21 at Exit/In right here!
