New Album Blues / State of Mind

I had yet to comment on the glaring absence this year, the continuing wait, the occasional wonder...where is that new album??

Having grown weary of the delay, I will throw one more discussion into the ring. The next time I venture on the subject will be if and when something new plays in my stereo....

For whatever reason, or combination of reasons, there is no indication that a new album has been worked on or is planned. Stunning really. Having newly signed to Sanctuary Records in 2008 under the control of Rick Rubin, who has a reputation for getting down to business and having limited patience for conclusive results, the general consensus pointed to a soon to be arriving album, with good reasoning. Further the fact the band's official web site in early 2009 had for a month or two a full page web greeting proclaiming a new album gave an easy assumption of fruitful anticipation. Nothing has materialized however, save for anniversary releases of old material and two great, but not new, live albums.

Obviously the band profits from the incessant touring, courtesy of ticket and merchandise sales. The aforementioned anniversary and live releases include commissions, and classics such as "Tres Hombres" and "Eliminator" are bound to sell a few copies here and there. No doubt that Sanctuary is taking its cut as well.

I've questioned the reasoning behind seven years without a new record in the face of seemingly ideal conditions. I'm actually tiring of wondering. My theory, until proven otherwise, is a combination of Billy living full time in Los Angeles away from his bandmates, a general apathy as the band grows older to work on their craft, and a reasonable worry or concern that a new release will be greeted with little fanfare from critics or the public. Lynyrd Skynyrd and AC/DC have proved that older bands can still put out pleasing and well received music (Skynyrd has one original member for mercy's sake and their new album still sold well!). Ultimately the main reason is probably apathy; a loss of spark, creativity and desire is evident if you peer just below the surface of the mystique.

No matter. Fourteen albums of original material, 100's of thankfully preserved live recordings, and the endless enjoyment of low down and dirty blues that continues to transcend the powerless constraints of time earns the group a well deserved and well preserved place in the ongoing and infinite chronicle of musical contribution.

Chronicles have chapters. Chapters have endings.

-----

If "Tejas" hasn't gotten a spin from your stereo lately I would suggest you give it a go. Southern Comfort and "Avalon Highway" is a powerful combination, taking you to the western Texas landscape and pinning you under the desert's auburn setting sun. The greatest album of ZZ's catelogue? Something to ponder and discuss in the future....