Review: New American Farmers’ “Brand New Day”

By Ken Paulson

–The folks who promote albums have tough jobs. They somehow need to convey the sound of an album by describing it.

That means we see lots of allusions to Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, and lately, the Lumineers and Mumford and Sons. And of course, one of the most enduring references for any album with a soaring guitar sound is to Roger McGuinn and the Byrds.

That’s why it was no surprise that the promotional material for New American Farmers’ Brand New Day touted the participation of former Byrd Gene Parsons. Here we go again.

And then I listened to the album. The opening track “Everywhere” absolutely channels the early ‘70s Byrds and sets the stage for an entertaining collection of songs that tap an earlier era of country and rock. In LP terms, the first side is the strongest, concluding with a surprising  cover of ELO’s “Can’t Get It Out of My Head.”

Formerly known as Mars Arizona, New American Farmers have a fun and fresh start on Brand New Day.