Cody Jinks Hints at 2021 Plans, and They are BIG
So much for 2021 being better than 2020, at least so far. But true country fans do have something to look forward to as Cody Jinks has dropped a couple of succulent hints about what he might have in store for 2020.
“Demos are done on 20 new songs. Now we just need to schedule some studio time,” Jinks tweeted out on Thursday, hinting how 2021 might have a new album on tap, if not two knowing Cody’s track record. We’ll have to see if he ends up heading out to the Sonic Ranch recording compound in West Texas where his last few records have been cut, or if he goes for a change of scenery this time. Stay tuned.
Then on the live front, about an hour later, Cody Jinks dropped the nugget, “We (as in each and every one of us) NEED to have a serious party in Las Vegas. I mean, like the roaring 20’s, but with colder beer and important stuff like that. I’ll make it happen. When and where and etc.. coming soon. Hint: December…”
Could this be the long-anticipated followup to Cody’s quite successful personally-curated Loud & Heavy Fest that happened in 2018 in his native Fort Worth, that saw other great artists like Whitey Morgan, Sunny Sweeney, Colter Wall, Whiskey Myers, Nikki Lane, Ward Davis and others all take the stage? He promised it would be coming back, but of course, COVID-19 sort of put a crimp in those plans. We’ll just have to see.
And don’t be surprised if between a big album, and a big event we don’t also see some side projects materialize. Cody Jinks hinted at all kinds of things he may have in store in August of last year, including a Lefty Frizzell tribute album, a rock EP, perhaps an acoustic album and another live album, all to go along with his recently-released Live at Red Rocks, which has been well-received. Not all of it may come about, but some of it might.
For more intelligence on upcoming albums in cool country music, make sure to check out the Release Radar and Most Anticipated Albums list.
January 8, 2021 @ 9:48 am
I was hoping he was going to announce that he’s going into the studio with same musicians and producer (Tommy Detamore, Cherry Ridge Studios outside San Antonio) that Jesse Daniel used on Rollin’ On. I’m a big fan of Jinks’ older stuff, and damn that would be awesome to hear him work with that crew, along with getting some outside writing help.
Go ahead and crucify me, but his last few albums have been almost entirely mediocre from a song, musicianship and production quality standpoint in my view, and I think an injection of the above could result in a stellar album.
January 8, 2021 @ 10:04 am
I just wish he’d go back to writing songs by himself. I think he’s a much better writer than the people he’s been writing with and the songs just aren’t as good as the older stuff. Quality over quantity.
January 8, 2021 @ 10:06 am
Not one part of this I disagree with, and I’m pretty sure we’re not alone.
April 3, 2021 @ 5:05 am
I can’t wait for the next album.
January 8, 2021 @ 10:59 am
i love Jinks but for different reasons the new Ward Davis album is much better to my ears than latest Cody’s. Anyway champagne problems here..
January 11, 2021 @ 5:54 pm
Ward is who I thought of in reading the above comments too. I’d like to see him get a bit of the credit he deserves.
January 8, 2021 @ 11:06 am
I continue to think that comment section folks here are too hard on Cody’s recent records. I do think that “Lifers” didn’t have the same songwriting performance we had become used to, though the track list was backloaded. But I think his last two records were really solid, and it’s hard for an artist like Cody Jinks to continue to meet high expectations. That said, I wouldn’t be opposed to a bit of a shakeup in approach to how he records new songs, whether that’s a change of venue, producer, or something else. Never anything wrong with that. It’s just a good way to make sure you don’t stick in a rut. We’ll see.
I for one am just as excited to see what he has planned in Vegas.
January 8, 2021 @ 12:24 pm
There’s a difference between “really solid” and totally badass though, isn’t there?
January 8, 2021 @ 2:14 pm
Yes, just like there’s a difference between “This album didn’t meet me high expectations based off his previous stuff” and “this album sucks.”
January 8, 2021 @ 2:19 pm
For sure, but who said that?
January 8, 2021 @ 12:48 pm
I’m in the camp that likes Lifers and the last 2, many of those songs just sounded great live when he played them as well as being very enthusiastically received. Fun to sing along with too! It’s cool he’s got 20 new ones written but I’d be happier if he just picked the best 10 or 11 found a different production team to make 1 great sounding album instead of 2 records. It’s not easy to keep writing incredible songs but as long as he stays true to himself we’ll keep coming back. Vegas sounds like a great time, I’d have no problem making that little trip that’s for sure.
January 8, 2021 @ 1:01 pm
Yeah his last two I thought were really good my only complaint is how loud they are. I have to turn my volume down like 5 notches when one of those songs comes on.
January 8, 2021 @ 1:53 pm
I loved the last two albums… would love some better production. Probably could have paired that down to one album but it was great getting so many songs. I have played the hell out of those songs and still like them. The writing on the early stuff is great. Hard to sustain expectations after those. The live album had great production. I am impressed with it. Cody is damn good to his fans. He keeps delivering. 2021 sounds exciting for fans.
January 11, 2021 @ 6:14 pm
I agree with you Trigger. IMHO and without being too critical of either of two of my favorite guys, all of the recent “bad” Cody records have plenty of tracks still getting played round here. I think country squire is a fine sophomore effort and a good album but, it was definitely graded on a curve compared to Cody’s latest efforts by the average country fan. Cody is still underrated in a way notwithstanding his accomplishments.
On the other hand, I actively seek out old live versions of those Tyler songs over the album versions (because they are good songs and Tyler’s a boss). I’d gladly say Tyler’s the better songwriter overall but, if we’re talking about who put out the better album to follow their respective modern country classic album, in my book it’s Cody all day. I’d say all 3 Cody albums were closer to Adobe’s level than country squire was to Purgatory.
I’m admittedly knit picking to make that point and feel bad speaking critically of either man’s music in any way but, I do think it is the perfect example of how wonky things have gotten. Both these guys are literally breaking new ground for country music right now and somehow, the conversation around these guys and these albums feels disingenuous.
January 8, 2021 @ 3:18 pm
Mannnn, if “Tell em What It’s Like”, “William and Wanda”, and “Never Alone Always Lonely” are mediocre songs, very few people should ever pick up a guitar again.
I could see not preferring Lifers because of the pop production, but that album had some bangers that are really fun songs. “Holy Water”, “Must Be The Whiskey”, “Can’t Quit Enough”, all great live. “Head Case” was a beautifully written song as well.
January 9, 2021 @ 10:44 pm
You go it, if people weren’t there IN PERSON to sing along with a crowd to Holy Water, Must Be the Whiskey, or Tell em What It’s Like, than they’ll never get it. Cody has what so few have. Great sing along songs without being poppy and still being real Country music. That’s why he’s the best there is right now!!! BAR NONE
January 10, 2021 @ 7:04 am
Agreed Hank. Don’t forget “Somewhere between love you and leaving”.The most country thing Jinks has ever done IMO
January 9, 2021 @ 3:26 am
I agree. He needs to edit himself or have someone else do it for him. He;s not that good to keep churning tons of songs. He also should branch out musically. It all just sounds the same to me.
January 9, 2021 @ 2:42 pm
What makes Jinks such a badass is he doesn’t give a shit. He just likes making music and living life. I feel I know his discography as well as any fan and I totally disagree that Less Wise, 30 or Blacksheep is any better than Wanting/Fire in regards to song writing or sound.
The hypocrisy on this board cracks my ass up with folks bitching about an artist that keeps sounding the same but rip others like Sturgill or Margo when they branch out.
I also fucking despise the earlier material is better bullshit. It’s always the same whether it’s “Sunday Valley” (aka Sturgill self titled), Metallica, or any other popular artist that once the earliest fans see mainstream success they have to cling to the cool shit.
I hope Cody records as much music as he wants and keeps doing what he’s doing.
Just my two cents.
January 10, 2021 @ 7:18 am
Outside of Not the Devil, I think wanting/fire is as good or better than anything he’s done. It’s not a competition, Cody Jinks just continues delivering great music.
I’ve seen Jinks live 10 times in the last few years. Several folks hate on lifers, but “must be the whiskey” brings an excitement to his live shows, the crowd loves it to the point it’s almost got to be a staple. “Somewhere between I love you and leaving” is as good and as country as anything he’s done.
Saw him in January before this covid shit hit, and wanting/fire new songs were generating same excitement, sound and energy live. It made me like the new albums even more. He opened with Same kind of crazy and delivered great see baritone on that live. Came back out and played stripped down version of Raven and the dove that was excellent. All the new stuff he played sounded great live, but unfortunately I think several fans missed that live experience of the new stuff due to Covid.
January 10, 2021 @ 7:34 am
Agree 100%. Excellent point.
Also I should of added why do I care if he wants to write with Ward, TJ, Whitey or anyone else? What’s cooler than a bunch of friends getting together and doing what they were born to do?
Jamey can’t make enough music, Cody makes too much of it….. blah blah blah. Keep it up Jinks!!!!!
January 9, 2021 @ 7:39 pm
Cody!! Just keep being you my man. You haven’t ever given a damn about what they were saying anyway. Your fans appreciate and love you for that approach.
The best there is period. It’s all about the music
January 10, 2021 @ 8:18 am
Couldn’t say it better Jeff!!!
Really is what makes him such a badass
January 10, 2021 @ 8:28 am
One more point and I’ll shut up.
Waylon recorded how many studio albums? I’m pretty sure it was over 40. I don’t hear people taking about all his “filler” material. There were gems and there’s stuff I’m like ‘meh’ but I just love listening to it all, to the man sing and the band jam.
Was ‘Lifers’ Jinks best album? Probably not but we got some gems out it so it was a success in my book.
January 8, 2021 @ 11:26 am
Excited for whatever’s coming soon. Hopefully things will start to look up more this new year than the last.
January 8, 2021 @ 2:47 pm
December in Vegas usually means Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Wonder if he’s got something going with that?
January 8, 2021 @ 3:32 pm
Will the announcement for Las Vegas be made in December or is the event being planned to take place in December
January 8, 2021 @ 3:58 pm
I think Cody is trying to keep things ambiguous at this point. But I took it to mean that there might be an event happening in December. It would be a little early to tease making an announcement 11 months from now, but who knows?
January 9, 2021 @ 3:28 am
Why Vegas?
January 14, 2021 @ 7:36 am
I really want him to record the rock EP with and/or tour with Corrosion of Conformity.