Back in May, I mentioned that Two Gallants singer/guitarist Adam Stephens recruited My Morning Jacket’s Bo Koster and Patrick Hallahan, ex-Whiskeytown member Mike Daly, Atoms For Peace/Beck drummer Joey Waronker, Vetiver’s Andy Cabic, former Nine Inch Nails touring bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Blood Brothers’ Cody Votolato, and others for a solo record. Those juicy details aside, little else was known at the time, but now we have the official announcement and a free song to stream/download via his label, Saddle Creek.
On September 28, Stephens will release We Live On Cliffs, his Joe Chiccarelli-produced debut solo album. “These songs are about desperation,” Stephens said. “The desperation to make something of living, to find a sense of ease, to find someone to love and to maintain that fleeting feeling of love.”
After one spin of the first single so far, Stephens has settled into his new, non-power duo digs nicely, I’d say. The tune, “The Cities That You’ve Burned,” reminds me a bit of Bright Eyes or Conor Oberst’s solo work with the Mystic Valley Band. Download the song here and stream it below:
“The Cities That You’ve Burned” – Adam Stephens