Lance Cowan - Against the Grain (2025) Hi-Res

For the past 30 years, Lance Cowan has worked behind the scenes with some of the country’s finest songwriters, including Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Michael Martin Murphey, Lyle Lovett and many more. Along the way, he has quietly honed his own songwriting skills, learning from those artists and influences Jackson Browne, Mark Heard and John Prine to name a few.

His works have been performed and / or recorded by such respected artists as Joan Baez, Janis Ian, David Mallett, and several independent artists. In the studio he has been produced by legends like Allen Reynolds (Garth Brooks) and Jim Rooney (John Prine, Nanci Griffith) and has worked with musicians Dan Dugmore (Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor), Sam Bush, Pat Flynn (New Grass Revival), Dave Pomeroy (Don Williams), Andrea Zonn (James Taylor), Robert Reynolds (The Mavericks), among others.

A native of West Kentucky, Lance has lived and worked in Nashville with his wife, Nancy, since 1984.

Several producers, songwriters & behind-the-scene people have aspired to a career & have tossed the dice. Landslide Records (in Georgia) producer, the late Bruce Baxter recorded a single wonderful album in 1983 (“Middle of the Night”). Newark, NJ songwriter Larry Weiss (who penned the classic Glen Campbell song “Rhinestone Cowboy” among many others) issued a whole LP of brilliant songs. King Crimson’s original lyricist the late Pete Sinfield recorded the progressive rock poetic LP “Still.”

This is the sophomore effort by Lance Cowan (guitar/vocals), who has been behind the promotional wizard’s curtain for decades. This new showcase starts with a heavier vintage country tradition & he takes the chance of starting the set with a ballad. It works nicely.

The 10 original country-driven tunes shaved smoothly on Against the Grain were produced by Jason Stelluto & Scott Paschall (bgv on previous songs & uncredited) in Nashville. Cowan is quite good at lyrics geared toward reminiscing, thinking positively & taking on the role of parenting & the growing divisions in the world — performed with no caustic vocal but a poignant tone. There aren’t any searing solos, novelty tunes, or controversial edgy statements in Cowan’s music. He relies on musical spirituality rather than a religious or political oil & vinegar blend. It makes the songs carry their message without sounding like it’s pontificating.

What’s admirable is that Cowan remains true to the basics of the genre but allows his stories, narrative & showcase to come from a different place in his pen than most who labor in mainstream country. “I Can’t Stand the Winter” & the lovely piano ballad “More or Less” has a pastoral sensibility. Lance’s appeal avoids the pop-country pitfalls & sticks a memorable melody in the ears of country purists. Not so much Buck Owens/Sonny James but a cross between Mickey Newbury & Chip Taylor.

More of a commercial slant comes with “Ragged Edge of Nothing” (nice title) with lyrics not country-pop-oriented but mainstream-friendly. “Old King Coal” has Lance stepping into a puddle of Steve Earle with an invigorating Richie Furay era-Poco country groove. Lance’s higher register is loaded with enthusiasm & “Against the Grain” has a pleasant rural John Hartford tone stirred in a pot of Michael Nesmith intonation (“Silver Moon”). Nice.