Joey Frendo - Bound for Heartache (2023) [Hi-Res]

Joey Frendo is a man on a mission: to tell stories that speak to the human experience with authenticity and passion. His grit will pull you in, and you’ll stick around for a while once you’ve caught an earful of his lived-in blue-collar storytelling. Equal parts alt-country, Petty-esque jangly guitar anthems, and bonafide Red Dirt twang, “Bound for Heartache” marks a natural progression for Frendo as he settles into his craft, showing that his new home region (Tulsa, OK) has rubbed off on him for the better. He’s not afraid to show his range here — from pedal steel and barroom piano-laden rompers “Fool Hearted Woman” and “Building on Quicksand” to the driving rhythms and pop hooks in “Get What You Get” to the forlorn balladry of “Wild Pilots” and “Nebraska Rain” — each track standing on its own while never once feeling misplaced or out of sequence.

Recommended if you like: Jason Isbell, Hayes Carll, Brent Cobb, David Ramirez, Bruce Robison