The Josh Abbott Band creates music from the soul. They’re creativity in lyrics, sound and ensemble is truly a work of art. They take their way of country music to the next level with their attention to detail and storytelling. JAB’s previous album ‘Front Row Seat’ depicts the haunting trials of a marriage coming to an end. Their new album ‘Until My Voice Goes Out’ picks up right where ‘Front Row Seat’ left off. The new album is symbolic of one door closing and another one opening. The message of life coming full circle and appreciating every day is the underlying theme.
Josh Abbott, the lead singer and name sake of the band, opened up about the bands’ new music and story. The theme behind the band’s fifth full length album is the sequel to their previous album ‘Front Row Seat–’ “the last track of that album [‘Front Row Seat’] is called ‘Anonymity’ and it’s kind of a reflection of the past and what’s to come in the future. This new album is that character, which is really me, moving forward. This album is about life and about figuring out what that means. It’s an appreciation of life.” Abbott reflects about the mistakes made in the past, how to move forward and build up his self-confidence again. Along with those motivating points, Abbott deals with the death of his father and the birth of his daughter.
Timing is everything – and this album couldn’t have happened at a better time for Josh and the band. Josh describes it as “coincidence with fate.” The guys headed to the studio in late January to start recording the album and one week into it, Josh got the news about his dad. Unfortunately, Abbott’s dad passed away just three weeks later. Abbott said “it’s just interesting that we went to record this album with the intentions of making it a follow up of ‘Front Row Seat.’ And before all these events happened I told everyone that this album would be an appreciation of life. Who would have thought that in the middle of mixing and mastering it, I would have a child and lose my father all in one? It really does embody the trials of life and what it means to appreciate it.” However, these circumstances were not used as a way to make fans listen or draw attention or to frankly make an album. These experiences were raw and real, which happened at the time of the recording, which made it that much more meaningful. “This album is about vulnerability and showing what the process was like during this time. It was crazy.” The album is a dedication to Abbott’s dad and he is curious to see how the personal touches will effect and resonate with fans.
The album being named ‘Until My Voice Goes Out’ has different reasons behind it. The song on the album is one that they are most proud of. It was a title that appeared to be strong and interesting – capturing the attention of the listeners. The song also took on a different meaning, emotionally, for Josh when during their recording session of the track he got a call that his father had had a stroke. “I left the studio that day and I never went back for two weeks. The guys finished it without me and I had to fly back and finish the vocals in one night. The song stands for living life, it doesn’t necessarily mean ‘I’m gonna sing until I can’t anymore’ but what does it metaphorically mean,” Josh said. “I’m gonna live life until I can’t anymore, and I’m gonna do what I love and am passionate about until I can’t anymore.” This song takes on a greater meaning for the singer/songwriter. It was also the last song his father heard, when Josh played it for him while he was hospitalized in his final hours. Emotional and heavy were the words used to describe that moment. “It just felt right and it felt like it needed to be the album title.” Resilience is prominent throughout this album and the obstacles they face will not keep them from moving forward.
Next to the title track’s personal touch, ‘I’m Your Only Flaw’ is important because it’s about Josh’s fiancé and their daughter. ‘Ain’t My Daddy’s Town’ is about losing his father and the epilogue that accompanies it and ends the album is heavy – “I picture myself waving goodbye to my father out on the shore, leaving. It’s my farewell to him.” With Dwight Baker producing, the band is in good hands. Dwight and JAB have a connection like no other – “he’s just the one. Every band has that one producer, and he’s that one for us.” He knows how to handle the band in every which way and he understands them as individuals and a band, and he understands sound.
Aside from being another immediate and tale-telling album, the band took a risk and added a different touch to their sound to ‘Until My Voice Goes Out.’ For the first time, the group included a horn and string section, which was backed by award winning Rob Mathes. “We didn’t want to keep making the same album,” Abbott said, “in general it feels like there’s not much of a sonic difference between albums. A band I have always respected is The Beatles because their sound was always evolving and changing. Just taking that approach, never being afraid to experiment, is going to go a long way for us.” The band is taking a big risk with this sound change but they are excited about it because it is all about the musical experience. Rob Mathes is considered one of the best composers of strings for commercial music. He’s worked with Sting, U2, Garth Brooks and more, and the band was honored that he wanted to work with them. “He liked that we weren’t trying to be cute or hooky, like he’s seen before in country music. He really respected that and he helped out a ton, it was great and he clearly did an amazing job. He created some pieces that I consider to be the heart of the album.”
The band will be touring in support of the new album, which will include the horns and the strings sections. Josh says fans can expect a new show viewed in a new way. Fans won’t be seeing the same concert; they’ll be hearing new songs as well as a new way of hearing the old songs. Josh said it will be an interesting show and one that will bring forth their new ideas.
Main Photo Credit: Gary Dorsey