With their 11th studio album New Ways to Lose, American Aquarium and front man BJ Barham continue to prove why they remain one of the most vital voices in Americana and roots rock. Produced once again by Shooter Jennings and tracked live over a 10-day session in Los Angeles, the record captures the band at its most immediate and energetic. After two decades on the road, this is their 20th anniversary as a band, it was brilliant for Shooter to capture raw energy of their live set. This is a sneaky record. It is the most up-tempo album they have made in a while. The “slappers and bangers”, as Barham like to call them, might make you think he is moving away from his penchant for writing sad songs. That is until you listen to the lyrics, which deliver the gut punch you have come to expect from Batham’s songwriting.
The album opens strong with “Dollar General,” a pulsating rocker that nails the hollowed-out reality of small-town America. The metaphor of Dollar General is fitting. You can’t drive 5 miles in any direction in the rural South without passing a Dollar General. So, if the local Dollar General is shutting down, that is sign to roll up the sidewalks. Barham never lets the messaging overtake the music though. Instead, these songs pulse with the same anthemic drive that has made American Aquarium a live force for years. Subtle shifts— evoking Springsteen’s E Street Band on “Twin Flames,” piano-driven introspection elsewhere keep the ten track set dynamic and fresh. On a more intimate level, New Ways to Lose makes room for tenderness amid the stomp. The aforementioned “Twin Flames,” written for Barham’s wife, stands out as a heartfelt love song delivered with rowdy energy, while “Favorite Hello” confronts the gut-wrenching loss of a family pet with genuine heartbreak. The title itself is drawn from a sports announcer’s quip about Barham’s beloved NC State Wolfpack finding “new ways to lose”.
In the end, New Ways to Lose feels like a victory lap. It is gritty, politically aware without preachiness, and deeply personal. It is proof that 20 years in, American Aquarium is still evolving while staying true to its independent spirit.
About the author: Chip and his family live in Birmingham, AL. Roll Tide!