With its latest album, Fortune Favors The Bold, Russell County, Virginia-based 49 Winchester is ready and roaring to break onto the national scene with its unique brand of tear-in-your-beer alt-country, sticky barroom floor rock-n-roll, and high-octane Appalachian folk.
Although it’s 49 Winchester’s fourth studio album, Fortune Favors The Bold marks its debut for Nashville’s New West Records – a label renowned for its support of Americana, Indie and Rock acts on the cutting edge of sound, scope and spectacle.
Lead singer Isaac Gibson joined my co-host, Chad, and I on our latest episode of the Arch City Music podcast to discuss the band’s history, their new album, and their upcoming tour with country-rock superstars Whiskey Myers. Listen to our conversation, recorded from The Barn studio:
I took to Twitter (@AustyTalksMusic) for an album review, in which I break down Fortune Favors the Bold song-by-song, discussing the stories behind the songs, the lyrics within the stories, and my interpretations of them:
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The first track from the album also happens to be the first single that was released from it, dating back to February 18th.
Austin Basler on Twitter: “”And I guess I’ll just give it a shot nowTry to make it on my ownBut God it just feels like a letdownThat this house just ain’t our home”https://t.co/xfpl4uowm2 / Twitter”
“And I guess I’ll just give it a shot nowTry to make it on my ownBut God it just feels like a letdownThat this house just ain’t our home”https://t.co/xfpl4uowm2
Second is Man’s Best Friend, which to my surprise was not about a dog!
Austin Basler on Twitter: “Track #2 – Man’s Best Friend:This track picks up the pace with a more upbeat tempo behind a story about the balance between values and vices. “Well the best friend that a man can have is JesusAnd the worst one he can have is named Jim Beam”https://t.co/21WJdqX8qM / Twitter”
Track #2 – Man’s Best Friend:This track picks up the pace with a more upbeat tempo behind a story about the balance between values and vices. “Well the best friend that a man can have is JesusAnd the worst one he can have is named Jim Beam”https://t.co/21WJdqX8qM
The third song is Russell County Line, which was the second single and originally released on March 11th.
Austin Basler on Twitter: “”And if you wonder where my heart is when I’m out on the roadIt’s right at home, I left it honey just for you to holdAnd if you wonder how I’m doing, know that I am doing fineBut I wish I was in Virginia on the Russell County line”https://t.co/lXDyRdGDe5 / Twitter”
“And if you wonder where my heart is when I’m out on the roadIt’s right at home, I left it honey just for you to holdAnd if you wonder how I’m doing, know that I am doing fineBut I wish I was in Virginia on the Russell County line”https://t.co/lXDyRdGDe5
All I Need is both the fourth song on the record and the fourth pre-released single, which debuted on April 29th.
Austin Basler on Twitter: “”We ain’t got no hits, but we sell a few ticketsAnd it seems like a lot to a guy like meThat ain’t never had nothing but a dream and a guitarAnd this road dog itch that won’t quit bothering me”https://t.co/GZPuqH7swc / Twitter”
“We ain’t got no hits, but we sell a few ticketsAnd it seems like a lot to a guy like meThat ain’t never had nothing but a dream and a guitarAnd this road dog itch that won’t quit bothering me”https://t.co/GZPuqH7swc
Fourth on the track list, Hillbilly Daydream, a story about exactly that – a hillbilly daydreaming.
Austin Basler on Twitter: “Track #5 – Hillbilly Daydream:A country story as old as time, à la Dukes of Hazzard, 49 sings of making moonshine to overcome the financial struggle of a rising cost of living. https://t.co/7WOZlqIxwd / Twitter”
Track #5 – Hillbilly Daydream:A country story as old as time, à la Dukes of Hazzard, 49 sings of making moonshine to overcome the financial struggle of a rising cost of living. https://t.co/7WOZlqIxwd
The sixth track, and my personal favorite – Damn Darlin’. The third single from the album that was released on April 15th.
Austin Basler on Twitter: “”It was the night before Christmas 1995You broke her poor heart and she shattered your prideOutside that little honky tonk in Nashville, TennesseeNeon never looked so dim to me”An intro that is sure to get you excited for the rest of the story! https://t.co/wM2vS0P8sy / Twitter”
“It was the night before Christmas 1995You broke her poor heart and she shattered your prideOutside that little honky tonk in Nashville, TennesseeNeon never looked so dim to me”An intro that is sure to get you excited for the rest of the story! https://t.co/wM2vS0P8sy
The title track, Fortune Favors the Bold, appears 7th on the track list.
Austin Basler on Twitter: “”Well every dog has his day, mine was on the 13th on a Friday”We found out during our podcast interview with Isaac that this lyric was written long before it was determined the album would drop on Friday, May 13th. An incredible coincidence! https://t.co/DQwjVACLcU / Twitter”
“Well every dog has his day, mine was on the 13th on a Friday”We found out during our podcast interview with Isaac that this lyric was written long before it was determined the album would drop on Friday, May 13th. An incredible coincidence! https://t.co/DQwjVACLcU
Second Chance, the eighth song, has a similar feel as Annabel.
Austin Basler on Twitter: “”Just let me go, get your hooks out from under my skinJust let me know, a second chance just ain’t coming againA second chance just ain’t coming again”https://t.co/TQ1DuiTvb4 / Twitter”
“Just let me go, get your hooks out from under my skinJust let me know, a second chance just ain’t coming againA second chance just ain’t coming again”https://t.co/TQ1DuiTvb4
Neon – track nine – has all the makings of a classic country heartbreak song.
Austin Basler on Twitter: “Track #9 – Neon:A deep track about a failed attempt at love and the relief found from it, on a barstool in the neon. “And that neon right there beyond my barstoolMade me feel much warmer than you ever did at home”https://t.co/XzVSuJi7JY / Twitter”
Track #9 – Neon:A deep track about a failed attempt at love and the relief found from it, on a barstool in the neon. “And that neon right there beyond my barstoolMade me feel much warmer than you ever did at home”https://t.co/XzVSuJi7JY
Last Call, appropriately titled, is the tenth and final song on the album.
Austin Basler on Twitter: “Track #10 – Last Call:Aptly named, Last Call rounds out the album with a track about depression and loneliness disguised with a quick tempo and keywords as a drink-along song. / Twitter”
Track #10 – Last Call:Aptly named, Last Call rounds out the album with a track about depression and loneliness disguised with a quick tempo and keywords as a drink-along song.
Austin Basler on Twitter: “”Oh lord won’t you please just let this honky tonk stay open’Cause I have no place to go come closing timeAnd all my friends are here and I just need to keep on soakingAll the deep and dark recesses of my mind”https://t.co/9o6qhVgzzz / Twitter”
“Oh lord won’t you please just let this honky tonk stay open’Cause I have no place to go come closing timeAnd all my friends are here and I just need to keep on soakingAll the deep and dark recesses of my mind”https://t.co/9o6qhVgzzz
The album deserves far more credit than I could ever pay it with words, so do yourself a favor and stream it anywhere you listen to music. After you fall in love with the album you can see 49 Winchester opening for Whiskey Myers with Shane Smith and the Saints at the Saint Louis Music Park on June 9th and at the Ozarks Amphitheater on June 10th – you’ll find me at both shows! I saw Whiskey Myers perform at the Ozarks Amphitheater last year as an opener for Jamey Johnson and for that reason I can assure you that this is a tour you absolutely can not miss, so grab your tickets while you can and show up ready to party.
49 Winchester
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