Graham Lindsey’s sophomore album, Hell Under the Skullbones, hits store shelves next Tuesday, with what would be an uppercut to the jaw, if shelves had jaws. Lindsey’s album is powerful, with a sound reminiscent of Bob Dylan and Hank Williams (the original), and by mixing folk and country, Lindsey comes across as part bard and part cowboy.With poetic lyrics and stripped-down instrumentation, Lindsey’s music is simple and engrossing, and to better explain it, here are some lyrics from the opening track, Matchbook Song:
Lindsey’s music is also straightforward, unapologetic and sans bullshit. In Hole in the Ground, a track complete with banjo and harmonica, Lindsey discusses graves, death and a problematic catch-22: there’s no women in Hell, boys, and Heaven is dry. A problem if I’ve ever heard one.
Burn Me Down, a song near the end of the record, is a unique love song, complete with gasoline and skeletons. Nothing says "I love you" like gasoline and skeletons.
In its entirety, Hell Under the Skullbones, is a dark album about death, trains, drinking and women. And it’s also about poetry. Lindsey’s music is wonderful, with mandolins and steel guitars aplenty, but his lyrics are the heart of the album. Even with the gasoline and skeletons, Graham Lindsey’s lyrics are introspective and nothing short of beautiful. Walking in the footsteps of Guthrie and Dylan, Lindsey’s feet are just the right size.
To hear some of Lindsey's music, check out his MySpace page and the MySpace page of SPACEBAR Recordings.
This ain’t no love song
This ain’t no organized and scripted happenstance
This ain’t no ordinary radio summons straining for amends
It ain’t this and it ain’t that
This ain’t no sideshow strip down college vomit dance
It’s just a song
Lindsey’s music is also straightforward, unapologetic and sans bullshit. In Hole in the Ground, a track complete with banjo and harmonica, Lindsey discusses graves, death and a problematic catch-22: there’s no women in Hell, boys, and Heaven is dry. A problem if I’ve ever heard one.
Burn Me Down, a song near the end of the record, is a unique love song, complete with gasoline and skeletons. Nothing says "I love you" like gasoline and skeletons.
Don’t lay flowers on my grave
I don’t want to rot that way
Burn me down and burn it all
My skeleton will stand up tall
Because I love you
In its entirety, Hell Under the Skullbones, is a dark album about death, trains, drinking and women. And it’s also about poetry. Lindsey’s music is wonderful, with mandolins and steel guitars aplenty, but his lyrics are the heart of the album. Even with the gasoline and skeletons, Graham Lindsey’s lyrics are introspective and nothing short of beautiful. Walking in the footsteps of Guthrie and Dylan, Lindsey’s feet are just the right size.
To hear some of Lindsey's music, check out his MySpace page and the MySpace page of SPACEBAR Recordings.
