Randy Rogers Band Promises New Album “Nothing Shines Like Neon” is Traditional Country
The Randy Rogers Band is gearing up to release their 7th album on January 15th entitled Nothing Shines Like Neon, and the word on the street is that fans should expect a traditional country effort. And with contributions from Jamey Johnson, Alison Krauss, and Jerry Jeff Walker, calling it traditional doesn’t sound like too much of a stretch. A more traditional sound also sounds feasible since the band will release this new record independently after releasing their last four albums through MCA/Mercury Nashville.
A common criticism of Texas country is that it has become a kissing cousin to Nashville’s Music Row over the last few years, especially with so many of the region’s top acts, including the Randy Rogers Band, signing with Nashville-based outfits. But the band returning to their independent roots is a good sign they will make whatever album they wish, without the influence of Music Row’s commercial interests.
Signing up for the producer role on Nothing Shines Like Neon is Buddy Cannon, who is known most recently for working with Willie Nelson and Jamey Johnson. Cannon also helps co-write a couple of the songs for the album.
“The band and I had a lot of fun recording at Cedar Creek in Austin,” says Randy Rogers. “Being close to home, family and friends made the process all the more enjoyable for us. We brought Buddy Cannon on board to the produce the album and hoped ‘Neon’ would build upon the traditions of the country albums we grew up listening to. It’s country. We’re proud of it. We hope our fans enjoy it.”
Seven of the songs from Nothing Shines Like Neon are written or co-written by Randy Rogers and the band, with the balance coming from friends in the greater Texas country scene. The album is said to open with a fiddle-driven traditional tune called “San Antone.” The duet with Alison Krauss is called “Look Out Yonder,” and the Jamey Johnson collaboration, which is said characterized as “hell-raising” is called “Acting Crazy.” Jerry Jeff Walker appears on “Taking It As It Comes.”
Compounding interest and excitement for Nothing Shines Like Neon from the ranks of traditional country fans is 2015’s Hold My Beer Vol. 1—a collaboration between Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen. Unexpectedly classic and country, the album has been considered one of the best all year in certain traditional country circles.
READ: Album Review Wade Bowen & Randy Rogers “Hold My Beer”
More and more Texas country artists are coming home after years of recording in Nashville and reconnecting with their authentic roots to release career efforts. Here’s hoping the music of Nothing Shines Like Neon holds form.
October 1, 2015 @ 6:28 pm
Can’t wait for this album to come out, especially since they are my favorite Texas band. Saw Randy and Wade’s Hold My Beer show about a month ago and the only new song Randy played was ” San Antone” and I thought it was damn good.
October 1, 2015 @ 6:36 pm
It’s weird being excited about a male country album.
October 1, 2015 @ 6:42 pm
If it’s half as good as HMB Vol. 1 then it will be a hell of an album. And can’t really go wrong with Jamey & Alison being on board
October 1, 2015 @ 6:55 pm
Seeing Buddy Cannon on some co writes and as producer is always a positive sign.
I really think Randy has the power to turn tides for Texas country back to a more traditional style and less rock and pop. He has one of the largest followings and is close with other top acts like Wade Bowen.
As soon as I saw the title , it made me a lot happier for the night, can’t wait.
October 1, 2015 @ 7:54 pm
Awesome news. While some Texas bands may be embarrassingly close Nashville’s pop country crap (Casey Donahew, Josh Abbott), the upcoming releases by the likes of RRB, Jason Boland, Stoney LaRue and recent releases by the likes of the Troubadours and the Damn Quails have been damn good.
Now if we get word of Jamey Johnson actually releasing new material or Chris Knight putting out a new album fans that appreciate good Country music will be in for a treat.
October 1, 2015 @ 8:34 pm
The positive difference from the pop country acts in Texas and the disaster of nashville is that the singers do have talent ( most/some) of them, and there are fiddles and steel guitar to be found.
Josh Abbott Band have some pretty good songs, some pretty shit songs too though. Casey Donahew on the other hand, isn’t the greatest thats for sure.
October 2, 2015 @ 8:40 am
The only JAB song I like is his song with Kacey Musgraves. Honestly I find Abbott himself to be a egotistical prick which really clouds his music for me. I agree with what your saying though, by in large most of the mediocre to bad Texas Country is inoffensive in comparison to what is being pumped out on mainstream Country radio.
October 1, 2015 @ 9:12 pm
I never thought RRB strayed nearly as far as people claimed. The last two albums were great even with some Nashville elements. I also think it’s important to mention that Randy doesn’t get nearly enough credit for the vocalist he is. He’s the only newer country vocalist who’s found a way to modernize the “moan” that people look for from earlier country. The guy is just top notch behind the mic.
October 2, 2015 @ 5:31 am
The problem with myself, as well as some others, with especially the last record, is that it sounded too over-produced. I hated the songs when listening to the album, but when I heard them live, they sounded much more honest and raw-something that they had done well in the past with their recordings.
October 2, 2015 @ 5:59 am
Man, I wish they’d play a show up near me sometime. I’d love to hear songs like “Flash Flood” live.
October 1, 2015 @ 10:26 pm
While I am definitely looking forward to this album, Randy Rogers Band never really went too far on the Nashville elements. They were still rooted in country and what I think modern country should sound like. I keep their albums in my rotation quite often.
October 2, 2015 @ 3:53 am
Last time i heard something real good from RR was ”Rolllercoaster”. I’m curious for their independence return.
October 2, 2015 @ 6:45 am
Rollercoaster is some essential Texas country listening, that’s for sure. I think the RRB’s version of “This Time Around” would have to be my favorite, with all due respect to Cross Canadian Ragweed.
(Their version of that song was great too, though.)
October 4, 2015 @ 8:56 pm
Rollercoaster is the one RRB album i own. i’ve listened to most of it once. i still had two more songs to listen to before i yanked it out. i do not get the hype.
October 2, 2015 @ 8:45 am
I never thought RRB strayed that far from there roots. I do agree the last 2 RRB studio efforts were over produced. Randy is a unique vocalists. They use the fiddle like most bands use lead guitar which also is unique. RRB is best experienced live that’s were they shine brightest. Looking forward to the new tunes.
October 2, 2015 @ 9:21 am
I do think by Randy Rogers going out of his way to say this will be a traditional country effort is his way to ever so slightly acknowledge at least a bit of the overproduction on recent efforts, and let core fans know not to expect that on this new one.
October 18, 2015 @ 8:12 pm
Fiddle they use. I heard the new single, don’t find the title with cursory searching, but something about neon and a woman and I knew who it was in the first four seconds before a word was sung. That counts for a lot with me actually.
October 2, 2015 @ 10:26 am
I didn’t think they went too far with their last albums, but looking forward to this one!
October 2, 2015 @ 10:33 am
After reading most these comments I have to ask. What’s so bad about putting out a well produced record? It definitely doesn’t make you a sellout to put out a record that’s well produced. It makes you a smart businessman, a well produced record is going to up your chances of radio play, up your chances for a broader fan base, it will also up your chances to sell more records. That’s the point right. Sell records, get radio play and get a wider fan base right?
October 2, 2015 @ 11:16 am
Hey Bubba,
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with well-produced records. I think the bigger question is, were those records well-produced for Randy Rogers? Of course that’s a matter of taste, and if you’re a hardcore Randy Rogers fan, you may see nothing wrong with the production. But it may make others cringe a little bit. I took Randy’s words that this will be a “traditional” effort to mean he’s looking more at capturing HIS sound, instead of his sound interpreted through someone else. That doesn’t mean he’s going to make a sloppy record. Buddy Cannon is no slouch.
October 3, 2015 @ 1:22 pm
I’m not surprised that many fans felt the last couple RRB albums were overproduced, consider Jay Joyce produced them correct? That guy has a habit of doing that, if you do it in small doses it’s fine or even cool, but when you try to do it track after track it just falls flat on its face.
I feel that is the biggest downside to some of the recent Eric Church and Little Big Town albums, either by their choice or Jay Joyce’s choice far too many songs try to be too cut when it comes to their production.
October 2, 2015 @ 12:21 pm
“A common criticism of Texas country is that it has become a kissing cousin to Nashville”™s Music Row over the last few years, especially with so many of the region”™s top acts, including the Randy Rogers Band, signing with Nashville-based outfits.”
Man that is such an accurate sentiment. I’m looking at you JAB with your new single “amnesia”
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December 22, 2015 @ 9:01 am
[…] Rogers has been hard at work this year with his own band recording new music. He has promised that the band’s new album due out next month will continue his delivery of traditional country music. This year Wade Bowen […]