Today, Nashville guitar virtuoso Sean Thompson releases Head In The Sand, his second album under the moniker Sean Thompson’s Weird Ears, via Ears Over America/Missing Piece Records. He celebrated the album with a release show last night at The Blue Room and will play a Grimey’s In-Store today before closing out the weekend with a listening party event at East Nashville’s The Green Ray. This week, Thompson was also profiled by the Nashville Scene who lauded his guitar work on the LP as “expressive, conveying the granular emotions that words might wash away.”
“This album signals a paradigm shift for me personally and musically,” shares Thompson. “I feel like I’m getting better at bringing out the music that is inside of me now. I’m becoming cozier with sonic freedom and exploration, especially when it comes to recording. I want humanity and organic sound to be the hallmark of my music, and I think it comes across here. This album is a diary entry. A time capsule. A sonic outline of difficult experiences paired with musical growth.”
Head In The Sand was written as a direct reaction to a series of challenges Thompson faced in succession, including the death of his mother, the loss of his dog and a life-altering breakup. Inspired by Herbie Hancock, Frank Zappa and the Grateful Dead, Thompson eschewed the standard singer-songwriter palette for something more cosmic and timeless. Garnering early acclaim from BrooklynVegan, No Depression, The Bluegrass Situation and more, the album features previously shared singles “Roll On Buddy”, a warm and ebullient ode to his dog who passed away in 2022, the psychedelia-imbued “Riding In The Van” and the raucous weather anxiety anthem “Storm’s Comin’ Tonight.”
Recorded and produced by Jake Davis, Thompson enlists bassists Alec O'Connell and Ryan Jennings, Erin Rae, Jo Schornikow (Phosphorescent) on keys, drummer Ben Parks, Michael Ruth (Rich Ruth) on synths, guitarist Jack Quiggins and steel player Spencer Cullum. A co-founder of the band Promised Land Sound, Thompson’s nimble and lyrical guitar playing has anchored the live bands of Erin Rae, Teddy and the Roughriders, Emily Nenni, Spencer Cullum’s Coin Collection and more.
Head In The Sand Tracklist
1. Head In The Sand
2. Storm’s Comin Tonight
3. Roll On Buddy
4. Not In The Cards
5. New Memories
6. Fizz
7. Riding In The Van
8. Sweet Taste of Tennessee
9. Saying The Quiet Part Out Loud
10. Song From The Heart
