For those unaware, Long Ryders guitarist/mandolinist Sid Griffin states High Noon Hymns is two thirds the distilled alt-country genre we helped found back in the 1980s, one third Paisley Underground adventurism yet with a dash of our own crazed soulfulness thrown in.

Due to the unexpected passing of Long Ryders’ bassist Tom Stevens, bass duties on the new album were shared by Murry Hammond of Americana stalwarts The Old 97s and The Long Ryders’ own Stephen McCarthy. McCarthy also performs live with The Jayhawks and occasionally records with the Dream Syndicate.

1. Four Winters Away
2. World Without Fear
3. Stand A Little Further In The Fire
4. Ramona
5. (How How How) How Do You Wanna Be Loved?
6. Knoxville On The Line
7. A Hymn For The City Of Angels
8. Down To The Well
9. Wanted Man In Arkansas
10. A Belief in Birds
11. Rain In Your Eyes
12. Say Goodbye To Crying
13. Forever Young

This magnificent musical gem, recorded at Kozy Tone Studios in sunny Poway, California, opens on the rambunctious Four Winters Away, the trot ’n’ stroll rhythms of World Without Fear, the Get it On-imbibed rocker Stand A Little Further In The Fire, and the mid-tempo free wheeler Ramona, before we are gifted the alt-country brilliance of (How How How) How Do You Wanna Be Loved?, the languishing beauty of Knoxville On The Line, and the twanging reverb of the low slung A Hymn For The City Of Angels.

Along next is the guitar rocker Down To The Well, more countrified twang on the lush mid-tempo balladry of Wanted Man In Arkansas and the upbeat and free flowing A Belief in Birds, before they are in turn backed seamlessly by the enjoyable melodies within Rain In Your Eyes, the new set rounding out on the beautifully impassioned ballad Say Goodbye To Crying, coming to a close on the emotive messaging within Bob Dylan’s Forever Young.

Guests appearing in the album include DJ Bonebrake of X on vibes and young bluegrass wunderkind Wyatt Ellis on mandolin. The album was recorded at Kozy Tone Studios in sunny Poway, California.

Official Purchase Link

www.thelongryders.com