Corb Lund
''Agricultural Tragic''
Corb Lund today releases his first new studio album with original material in five years, Agricultural Tragic.The 12-song set follows his acclaimed 2015 album Things That Can’t Be Undone, and the 2019 EP of cover songs, Cover Your Tracks.
It’s finally here, fans can wrap their ears around 12 new tracks, all tied together with the agricultural themes that have been present in Lund’s music since the start of his career. He explained to me recently that he’s coined the term ‘Agricultural Tragic’ as it best describes the kind of music he makes. The album opens with quite the story on the amusing 90 Seconds of Your Time. The song was inspired by a hunt that Lund went on with Evan Felker from Turnpike Troubadours, where their animals were let loose and the ranger leading them had murderous thoughts towards the culprits.
The energy that rings through that track is present across much of the record as Lund shares confessional tales from his life. The mid-tempo stomp of Old Men pushes back against society’s tendency to eradicate the older generation, stating that there are simply some things that young men can’t do. He does however concede that there are times young men would come in useful such as having his back in a bar fight. One of the first highlights comes on the duet I Think You Oughta Try Whiskey with Jaida Dreyer. Bringing to mind the classic Johnny Cash and June Carter recordings, the two artists play off one another over a plucky traditional Country beat.
Oklahomans! leans into rockier sounds with a superb lead guitar riff in the middle, Dance With Your Spurs On is a glorious slice of traditional Country, and the punchy Grizzly Bear Blues rips along at quite a pace during the verse before switching things up on the chorus. Another highlight comes on the stunning Never Not Had Horses, a song inspired by the moment Lund’s mother had to have her final two horses put down and realized it was the first time in her life she’d never had any horses.
As the album reaches its final two tracks, it doesn’t lose any energy. The uptempo Rat Patrol has a sing-a-long feel and is going to be a huge hit on the dancefloor when we’re allowed out again of course, while the closing track Tattoos Blues rips up all the rule books and combines spoken word poetry with a traditional Country chorus. At first Tattoos Blues will make you go ‘what the…?’ but it’ll grow on you and it’s an example of why Lund is so highly regarded for his creativity and musicianship.
“The time has finally arrived to release our new record into the wild,” says Lund. “We're gonna let 'er buck, pandemic or no pandemic. My guys and I worked our butts off making this album, and it blends all kinds of old school country music with the exotic rural content you've come to know and love.”
Lund debuted an acoustic video yesterday morning for the song “I Think You Oughta Try Whiskey.” The album track, Lund says, “is an old fashioned country couple-style duet with my friend Jaida Dreyer and it's dedicated to Loretta and Conway, Kris and Rita, Johnny and June and Tammy and George.”
Lund recently announced a revised list of Canadian tour dates. Scheduling updates based on local health and safety advisories are posted as they become available at www.corblund.com.
Lund will make his long-awaited debut at the legendary Grand Ole’ Opry in Nashville, TN on August 29th, 2020.
Agricultural Tragic is also the name of Lund’s self-applied subgenre. While examining his own body of work, he noticed and wryly named this larger narrative string of rural adversities. So-called “Ag-Trag” themes continue to feature prominently in Lund’s latest songwriting, thus leading him to choose Agricultural Tragic for the name of his 10th full-length studio album.
“There are people who do Western music and they kind of freeze-dry it, like museum style,” Lund says. “I don’t do that at all. I’m interested in expressing myself currently. Which is actually what it feels like to have six generations of cowboy heritage thrown into the crazy 21st Century urban setting. I love the traditional style and I use it. But I approach it with abandon and irreverence.”
More on Corb Lund
Corb Lund has received multiple CCMA, Juno, and international award nominations and wins. His seventh album, Cabin Fever, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Canadian Charts in 2012; three of his records have been certified Gold, and his 2015 studio album, Things That Can’t Be Undone, cemented his status as one of the best contemporary country singer/songwriters working today. Last September, Corb released Cover Your Tracks, 8-song collection of unexpected cover songs previously recorded by AC/DC, Nancy Sinatra, Billy Joel, Marty Robbins, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Willie Nelson & Ray Charles, and Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show.
A rural Albertan hailing from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with a long family lineage of ranchers and rodeo people, Lund is about as authentic as they come. Before his current bandleader incarnation with the Hurtin’ Albertans, Lund was an integral part of the smalls, a legendary Canadian indie rock band who didn’t quite fit into any single category, either, mixing punk, speed metal and — indeed — country. Embracing both his Western heritage and his indie rock past through his music, Lund has been known to filter a range of cowboy themes past and present through his unique lens - from rough-and-tumble tales of lawless frontier saloons, to the somber realities of running a modern family ranch.
Tour dates
November 8, 2020
Cranbrook, BC
Key City Theatre
November 10, 2020
Duncan, BC
Cowichan Performing Arts Centre
November 13, 2020
Victoria, BC
Alix Goolden Performance Hall
November 16, 2020
Penticton, BC
Cleland Community Theatre
November 17, 2020
Williams Lake, BC
Cariboo Memorial Centre
November 18, 2020
Quesnel, BC
Quesnel and District Seniors Center
November 19, 2020
Prince George, BC
Vanier Hall
November 20, 2020
Vernon, BC
Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre
November 21, 2020
Trail, BC
Charles Bailey Theatre
November 22, 2020
Vancouver, BC
Commodore Ballroom
November 24, 2020
Edmonton, AB
Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
November 25, 2020
Lloydminster, AB
Vic Juba Community Theatre
November 26, 2020
Regina, SK
Casino Regina
November 27, 2020
Saskatoon, SK
Coors Event Centre
November 28, 2020
Cadillac, SK
Cadillac Community Hall
November 30, 2020
Calgary, AB
Jack Singer Concert Hall
December 1, 2020
Winnipeg, MB
Burton Cummings Theatre
December 4, 2020
Sudbury, ON
The Townehouse
December 5, 2020
St. Catherine’s, ON
Warehouse Concert Hall
December 6, 2020
London, ON
London Music Hall
December 7, 2020
Toronto, ON
The Great Hall
December 8, 2020
Peterborough, ON
Market Hall Performing Arts Centre
December 9, 2020
Ottawa, ON
National Arts Centre
December 10, 2020
Montreal, QC
Le Belmont
Track listing
90 Seconds Of Your Time
Old Men
I Think You Oughta Try Whiskey (Featuring Jaida Dreyer)
Raining Horses
Oklahomans!
Grizzly Bear Blues
Dance With Your Spurs On
Louis L'Amour
Never Not Had Horses
Ranchin', Ridin', Romance (Two Outta Three Ain't Bad)
Rat Patrol
Tattoos Blues
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