NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country singer-songwriter Ashley McBryde has a colorful cast of characters in her songs and those of her friends, and now she has A town that allows them to thrive.
The award-winning singer from Arkansas and her team of songwriting partners created LIN’-dee-vill, a tribute to the late composer Dennis Lind, who wrote songs like “Goodbye Earl” Such a wacky character driven song.
Now out, “Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville” is a collaborative concept album by McBryde and her friends that aims to provide a home for the small-town misfits and their sometimes intoxicated and half-naked adventures. In McBride’s fictional town, there’s Dandelion Restaurant, the Folkham Family Funeral Home, Dennis Linde Field, Ronnie’s Pawnshop, and of course, Food City. There are also songs about Pete, a Vietnam Veteran who takes care of the ballpark; Patty, who works at a strip club where she hosts gospel nights; and Tina, who caught her husband Marvin cheating and is beating up in Xintan The girl who works in the city.
“It’s a fictional town, but it’s also every town you’ve ever been to,” McBride said. “We have this really cool livestock trailer full of really interesting characters.”
Her co-authors on this concept album include Aaron Raitiere, Connie Harrington, Brandy Clark, Benjy Davis and Nicolette Hayford, as well as guest singers Brothers Osborne, Caylee Hammack and Pillbox Patti.
McBryde and the crew nod to radio dramas like “The Prairie Home Companion” and create a detailed storyline with John Prine’s empathy and compassion. There are mysteries that confuse listeners, backstories that offer depth and redemption, and killer one-liners that are both explicit and hilarious. The tattooed singer, who has earned a reputation as a creative risk-taker in country music and “Lindeville,” encourages everyone on the project to take the song wherever they need to go, even if it’s dark, different or inappropriate ‘s radio.
“There will definitely be varying degrees of freedom and a little bit of carefreeness because, no. 1, it’s a collaborative thing. It’s a community-driven thing, and it takes multiple voices and multiple brains,” McBride said. . “And, we’re not going to use it for broadcast, which frees up more space, especially in terms of language. Because sometimes, I mean, you have to use profane language to make a point. If that’s where the truth lies , then that’s where it needs to be.”
John Osborn of the Osborn Brothers duo produced the album, which features McBride singing commercials for various businesses in Lindwell. “When you meet your maker, we’ll be your undertaker,” McBride sings of the town’s funeral home.
McBryde, who received five nominations at this year’s CMA Awards, said she was inspired by Bobby Bare and Shel Silverstein’s character-study concept albums made in the ’70s that became classics. “There are love projects like this, and they don’t happen very often in country music,” McBride said. “So while it’s not an important part of our national heritage, it’s a rare part. I’m very proud to keep the torch lighted.”
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Online: https://www.ashleymcbryde.com
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Follow Kristin M. Hall at https://twitter.com/kmhall