Press — bmr008

10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week: Lauren Alaina, John Calvin Abney John Calvin Abney, “Maybe Happy”Written during a European tour with John Moreland, “Maybe Happy” nods to Elliott Smith with its woozily lush arrangement and classic pop turns. The song’s accompanying album, Safe Passage, was released shortly after the death of Abney’s father, and “Maybe Happy” — the record’s closer — feels like a farewell to a longtime friend, with its nostalgic haze and warm, bittersweet bite. ROBERT CRAWFORD

Perfectly positioned so that each song takes you on a continuously looping journey, the new album is a front-to-back artistic assemblage that is a callback to classic albums that Abney himself has worn out on the turntable such as Bob Dylan’s “Blood On The Tracks.” And while there were some 20 other songs that ultimately didn’t make the record and instead ended up in his curious box of wayward songs, the Norman, Oklahoma native is never sorry to see them go.

Abney’s opening line announces the work he’s come to do on Safe Passage, departing from the archetypes and expectations others have placed on the 30-year-old singer-songwriter over the years and into a space he’s created for himself.

Video: Oklahoma musician John Calvin Abney releases new album 'Safe Passage,' listen to the first track 'I Just Want to Feel Good' Oklahoma songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist John Calvin Abney released his second album in as many years Friday.  The seasoned musician's latest collection, "Safe Passage," debuted Friday on Black Mesa Records. He released his previous album, "Coyote," on the label in May 2018.  To buy and/or listen to "Safe Passage," click here.  Abney has spent nearly 10 years in the studio and on the road, both in making his own music and in service to the songs of other...