The English alt-country band formed by Jof Owen from The Boy Least Likely are back with their second album, Anything But Country, as they edge further away from the “alt” that defined their early records. Adding eighties synths to their neo-traditionalist country sound, they’ve doubled down on their love of Dire Straits and nineties country and recorded ten blistering cuts of what they’re calling “Drivetime” country; hi-NRG country pop with a powerful eighties heartland influence pulsing through the middle of it.

Inspired by Owen’s long-standing love of country music and memories of growing up watching Pebble Mill and listening to Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins, Legends Of Country combine a classic old country sound with an honest and unmistakable English indie charm. Heartfelt and uplifting with a truckload of chicken pickin' and country swagger thrown in.

Once again produced by Rob Jones (Pictish Trail, Meilyr Jones, Rozi Plain, Charles Watson), he joins guitarist Adam Chetwood and new recruit Sophie Moss from Girl Ray on the ferociously upbeat new single ‘If That’s What It Takes’

The first taste of their new album is a countrified disco dancefloor-filler that finds the singer ruminating on the depths he’s willing to go to as he makes one more desperate bid for glory at any price. With its sassy arpeggiator bassline and country funk picking, it’s an intoxicating mix of new wave West Coast sunniness and low down and dirty eighties country licks.

Jof Owen grew up in Wendover, a small market town nestled in the Chiltern Hills, and his ironically understated and reflective lyrics have taken on an almost Larkinesque quality with Legends Of Country, writing about the absurdities of modern life, dysfunctional masculinity, and the depressing reality of ageing. Colloquial and quintessentially English, these are songs about searching for meaning and longing for belonging in a pre-apocalyptic world; sad but in a funny way, full of knowing humour and hope.

Best known as the singer and lyricist in indie pop legends The Boy Least Likely To, his songs have been featured everywhere from Easy A to the film Juno, from Coca Cola to car adverts. With their trademark glockenspiels and banjos, The Boy Least Likely To were one of the last wave of mid-noughties indie bands who could happily play the Pitchfork stage at SXSW and appear on KEXP at the same time as enjoying mainstream success back home with appearances on Popworld, GMTV and the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party, and picking up syncs for Apple iPhones along the way. 

The debut album by Legends Of Country, Talk About Country, was released to glowing reviews and great support at radio from Bob Harris on Radio 2, Chris Country Radio, Baylen Leonard on Amazing Radio and Cerys Matthews on 6 music, as well as other roots and country shows across the UK and the Rough Trade shop. The Saturday Dads was also the Record Of The Week on Absolute Radio. They’ve played headline shows across London at The Social, The Barfly, The Ace Hotel, Rough Trade East, The Lexington and The Slaughtered Lamb, as well as supporting Roddy Woomble, Cale Tyson and Karl Blau in the UK and appearing at Country To Country, Maverick, End Of The Road and Truck Festival.

Aside from the tongue-in-cheek band name, the only hint of irony here derives from the fact that one of the most exciting country bands around at the moment comes from the English home-counties, not Nashville.

If That’s What It Takes is available from everywhere all over the world now. To preorder the new album just go to the official webstore on here.

iTunes http://apple.co/2Cm0vgz
Spotify http://spoti.fi/2pWdjaO
Tidal https://tidal.com/track/82409946
Amazon hhttp://amzn.to/2E9jyLD
Apple Music http://apple.co/2Cm0vgz
Google Play http://bit.ly/2AmC1kP
Bandcamp http://bit.ly/2E5mVSO

Their last album Talk About Country is available on cd and download and vinyl from all good record shops.

The band play the Betsey Trotwood on June 13th and Long Road Festival on August 27th with more dates to be announced.

 

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“One of the most charming debuts we've heard all year”

- The Line Of Best Fit

 “Manages to successfully anglicise Nashville’s ability to universalise heartbtreak”

- Uncut

 “Legends Of Country twang, finger-pick and joke ruefully along familiar country lines but with a local, indie-pop twist - ****”

- Metro

 “Pulp playing the Grand Ole Opry”

- Narc

 “A very shrewdly observed overview of modern day living and a lesson in life"

- Fatea Magazine