For two decades, Rose’s Pawn Shop has evolved their version of modern-day American roots music. It’s an anthemic sound that’s taken the group from their hometown of Los Angeles — where frontman Paul Givant formed the band as a bluegrass-inspired act, making room for punky tempos and fiddle solos — to venues across the country, where their sound grew to encompass the sweep of rock & roll, the sonics of folk music, and the storytelling of country. With American Seams, the band’s fifth studio release, Rose’s Pawn Shop nods to the wide range of those influences while also doubling down on their folky roots. Produced by Grammy nominee Eric Corne during a series of live-in-the-studio performances, it’s a raw, reflective album about stepping into a new stage of life, reflecting upon all the lessons learned and mistakes made along the way. For Givant — a journeyman songwriter who’s weathered the twists and turns of the music industry, unwaveringly dedicating himself to a project that’s earned high marks from Rolling Stone (who called the band’s work “a blast of 21st century pickin’-party music”) and GQ (who praised their “knee-slapping bluegrass-y twang”) — it’s also a showcase of the the band’s staying power. This is resilient roots music, grounded in sharp songwriting and the hard-won experience of a band that’s dedicated itself to the long haul.
With its nostalgic fiddle riffs and amplified crunch, the album’s title track builds a bridge between the band’s own past and present. “The fiddle line feels like something you might’ve heard in the 1800s, and the rest around of the song is built around it,” Givant says. “It’s a nod to old-time America, but it’s about the present. It’s about what we’ve lost, what we’ve forgotten, and where we are right now.” The highlights don’t stop there. On “The Summer’s Over,” Givant’s bandmates stack their voices into thick harmonies during every chorus, singing about the passage of time and the fading of an earlier stage of life. “What If We Run” is a cinematic folk song that makes room for swelling verses and kinetic refrains. And throughout the rest of the record, the band crisscrosses the borderlines between genre and generation, bringing color to those grey areas, molding different sounds together. “Our music is a patchwork of American styles,” Givant says. “We have country, rock, bluegrass, and folk — all sorts of American musical influences, and they all go into the Rose’s Pawn Shop sound. We liked that visual, which is why we named the record American Seams.”
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Label: Copaco Records
Goes For Adds 3/10
“A masterclass in resilient roots music… for the seekers, the travelers, and anyone trying to navigate the complexities of modern life without losing their connection to the past.” – Country Music News International
“The band proves their prowess at drawing from all aspects of American music to create something timeless and enduring.” – No Depression
“Their songs are open-road odes to escape, possibilities, & breaking free… The band has guts, passion, & energy… [and] their music has assurance, & the songs are well articulated.” – Americana Highways
