The highly anticipated sixth album from Old Dominion, titled ‘Barbara’, is officially OUT NOW, having been released on August 22nd. As a final preview of the album’s stylistic experimentation, the band shared the single “Late Great Heartbreak,” which demonstrates the winningest Vocal Group Of The Year act in country music history flexing their considerable songwriting muscle. While the album is certainly packed with the country rock bangers and lighters up ballads firmly established in their wheelhouse, “Late Great Heartbreak” finds the quintet embracing an easygoing, soul inflected vamp that looks further back to old school soul music, echoing the sound of immortal ’80s radio rock hits. The confidence built over a decade of knowing their audience has allowed Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi, Geoff Sprung, and Whit Sellers to explore these exciting new directions, knowing their dedicated Odies community will follow them wherever inspiration leads.
The song originated from a spontaneous in studio experiment with a simple question: “What if we made a Huey Lewis song?” That spirit of fun and creative freedom is exactly what fueled the making of ‘Barbara’. Ramsey says of the session, “The freedom we feel now comes through in the amount of fun we have during the recording process. It was inspiring to goof off. There wasn’t any pressure in the room. We just wanted to laugh our asses off and make a song that was catchy as hell.” Contrary to what the title might suggest, “Late Great Heartbreak” is a playful, wry celebration of moving past a breakup, featuring Ramsey singing, “R.I.P. to you and me, I’m finally moving on/ From the late great heartbreak/ I’m crossing off my ex and paying my respects,” over a buoyant piano and a strutting rhythm section. This track represents the band in its purest form, created with no outside writers or session players, truly making ‘Barbara’ their most eclectic and personal album yet.
‘Barbara’ Track Listing
- Making Good Time
- Water My Flowers
- Me Most Nights
- Man Or The Song
- Break Your Mama’s Heart
- Miss You Man
- Talk Country
- Late Great Heartbreak
- Crying In A Beach Bar
- One Of Us
- What Doesn’t Kill A Memory
- Sip In The Right Direction
- Goodnight Music City