Hang Your Hopes On A Crooked Nail is our first experience of Rod Picott, and one we wanted to share as soon as possible.

The album unflinchingly deals with the hardscrabble hopes and fears of those desperately looking for a second chance, a new start or a quick fix. Picott takes great pleasure in skewing off into the darker side of life at every available opportunity delivering a record that conveys the minutiae of misery in painstaking detail – hopes are dashed, and broken dreams and broken hearts abound.

But a seam of gritty, undeniable humour also runs through the heart and soul of this record, deftly lightening the mood a touch just when it is most needed (“ain’t it strange its called a mobile home, you just sit there, you ain’t going anywhere“), providing a welcome counterbalance to some of the most downbeat moments. It is a dignified record too, one where all the characters are afforded respect and acknowledgement for their efforts as well as their considerable troubles.

Hang Your Hopes On A Crooked Nail is eleven exquisitely judged, beautifully played and emotionally poignant tracks of true-grit Americana.

The album is out on October 14th. Watch the video for I Might Be Broken Now, or stream it alongside another excellent track from the album, Just A Memory.

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