Cop this album: “All Hell” by Daughn Gibson

And now for something completely different.

Daughn Gibson is a former truck driver from Pennsylvania who used to drive around on long hauls listening to the only programming his radio would pickup in the middle of nowhere— country music.  Recently, Gibson decided to record an album of his own, drawing heavily on the country he heard while roaming America.

But instead of making the godawful, nails-on-chalkboard country that dominates rural airwaves today, Gibson has come up with his own brand of it that is unlike anything I’ve heard.  In fact, using the term “country” to describe his music is probably misguided.

Gibson uses samples and loops of country and old christian gospel music as the basis for his songs, while sometimes sprinkling in a few synth melodies.  He then sings over it with a voice that sounds like a mixture of Johnny Cash and John Maus, resulting in songs that sound like the perfect accompaniment to the decaying landscapes of the American backcountry.

Akin to acts like Band of Horses and Edward Sharpe, Gibson only leans into country ever so slightly.  But whatever you end up calling it, this album is extremely compelling and will certainly add some diversity to your music library.

Standout tracks:

Daughn Gibson - “Tiffany Lou”

Daughn Gibson - “In the Beginning”