Jeremy Pinnell
When Jeremy Pinnell released OH/KY in the summer of 2015 to stunned acclaim, it felt like an entire career compressed into one knock-out album. Hailed as, a “Mind-blowingly good” (Greg Vandy/KEXP) “ ”tutorial on classic country music” (Popmatters), Pinnell’s debut immediately differentiated as authentic and unflinching. Dogged touring through Europe and the States and celebrated radio sessions followed, cementing Pinnell’s position as a no-fuss master of his craft.
His 2017 album, Ties of Blood and Affection presented a canny lateral move. Instead of doubling down on the stark themes and values of his debut, the sophomore album found Pinnell finding comfort in his own skin, achieving the redemption only hinted at in his previous batch of haunted songs.
If the third time’s a charm, Pinnell is all shine and sparkle on the forthcoming Goodbye LA. Produced by Texan Jonathan Tyler, the tunes buff the wax and polish the chrome on Country music’s deeper roots. Rooted in his steady acoustic guitar, Pinnell’s songs are shot through with honest and classic elements. The rhythm section, all snap and shuffle, finds purpose in well-worn paths. The pedal steel and Telecaster stingers arrive perfectly on cue, winking at JP’s world-wise couplets . Here slippery organ insinuates gospel into the conversation. You can feel the room breathe and get a sense of these musicians eyeballing each other as their performances are committed to tape. And through it all comes this oaken identity, the devastating centerpiece of his work. Honest and careworn, Jeremy’s voice can touch on wry, jubilant, and debauched – all in a single line. At his best, Jeremy Pinnell chronicles the joy and sorrow of being human, which is the best that anyone could do.
HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING.
- “Hardscrabble honky-tonk at its best, nodding to Johnny Cash and Buck Owens in equal measure. Ties of Blood and Affection is a stellar collection that could earn Pinnell comparisons to Sturgill Simpson.” – ROLLING STONE
- “Kentuckian Jeremy Pinnell hits all the country-tune sweet spots. His voice is strong and a little mournful — you can feel his ache seep through the speakers as you listen — and the rhythm section shuffles along gently. Weepy pedal steel licks feel just right as Pinnell sings a regretful refrain of ‘I did it again,’ a familiar sentiment for any of us who’ve ever done a little backsliding.” – THE BLUEGRASS SITUATION
- “Sorrow and loss are deeply woven in to the country music fabric, but they’re especially critical elements to the new LP by Jeremy Pinnell, OH/KY. With a gruff voice and a strong grasp on what real country sounds like, Pinnell spins a series of compelling yarns on the album that document the hardships of the past 18 years of his life, from drug addiction to failed relationships. These tunes are a tutorial on classic country music.” – POPMATTERS
- “Mind-blowingly good. It’s my summer album so far, and pretty much the definition of ‘hard country.'” – Greg Vandy / AMERICAN STANDARD TIME / KEXP’s THE ROADHOUSE
- “A fantastic record” – GHETTOBLASTER MAGAZINE
- “If you’re a fan of classic county – and particularly honky-tonk music – this is an album that belongs in your collection” – AXS
- “OH/KY shines because Jeremy sings about the times he won’t talk about. The songs are brutally honest. It feels like both a warning and an apology. This album will give you chills, but only if you have a soul.” – GLACIALLY MUSICAL
- “Pinnell knows how infectious country should sound, with plenty of pedal steel guitar and soul… painfully honest.” – SOUNDZ MAGAZINE
- “A tribute to pure, authentic country… Pinnell captivates the listener until the end.” – KEYS & CHORDS
- “Jeremy Pinnell’s new song ‘Big Bright World’ is about as authentic as country gets: western swing rhythms, weeping pedal still, deep-voiced sadness, and a narrator with a former drug problem. Still, the sun shines through, just like the title suggests.” – INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
- “One of my favorite new finds.” – Sean Moeller / DAYTROTTER
- [8 / 10 stars] “This is about as pure a distillation of old-timey country that you may get to hear this year. So close up them honky tonks: there’s a new kid on the block. His name is Jeremy Pinnell and his take on a solid tradition is electrifying, even if the guitars are strummed acoustically, and the beats shuffle. OH/KY is a bold record, and thoroughly enjoyable.” – INVISIBLE INK
- [4.5 / 5 stars] “A first-rate Americana songwriter with bands like The Light Wires, The Great Depression and The Brothers and The Sisters Jeremy Pinnell steps into the spotlight on his remarkable solo debut OH/KY. With Cincinnati honky-tonk band The 55’s backing him, Pinnell dives head-first into old-school country music on this sublime release. I can’t recommend this one highly enough.” – PITTSBURGH IN-TUNE
- “…a pure, unabashed country album and a touching portrait of a man who’s ready to face his fears and grow.” – ADOBE & TEARDROPS
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