CD artwork for Buddies II: Still Buddies
Frank Turner & Jon Snodgrass are pleased to present ‘Buddies II: Still Buddies’, to be released through Xtra Mile Recordings on 13 November. Preorder the album on vinyl, CD and digital download here.
Ten years ago, the two acclaimed musicians hung out, drank whisky, wrote and recorded an album together called ‘Buddies’ – a lighthearted hang between friends that became a hit with fans of both artists. Fast forward a decade and the pair are still buddies, so they decided to write a follow-up.
As with the original, ‘Buddies II: Still Buddies’ was written in just one day, although this time Turner and Snodgrass had to do it over the Internet due to lockdown. With more time on their hands than usual, they were able to flesh out the album, musically, and recruit other buddies – Stephen Egerton (Descendents/ALL) on drums and Todd Beene (Lucero, Chuck Ragan, Glossary) on pedal steel. The result is a funny, warm and at times poignant album that’s part talk show, part music.
Vinyl artwork for Buddies II: Still Buddies
Touching upon themes such as Jon having children, their travels across the US, name-checking other songwriter buddies (like they did on the original album) and more, the album is a charming and playful reflection on a friendship ten years on. From the punk-turned-country of the album’s lead single, ‘Bad Times Good Vibes’, to referencing George Carlin’s infamous ‘Saving The Planet’ on ‘The Fleas’ the camaraderie is there for all to hear. ‘Buddies II: Still Buddies’ also stands as the first album Turner has recorded, mixed and mastered entirely on his own.
Rolling Stone has premiered the music video for ‘Bad Times Good Vibes’, which you can now watch below.
Turner had the following to share about the project and how it came about this year: “Lockdown has been such a blow to the music industry, and such a drag, that we were all looking for things to do. Jon and I have been buddies a long time, and I noticed the ten-year anniversary of our collaborative album was coming up. Technology is such that we were able to reprise the writing method remotely, and indeed it turns out we've got a lot better at it in the intervening decade. I'm really, really proud of the record.”
And Snodgrass adds: “Buddies II was somehow even more fun to make. It even sounds better too! Frank mixed it and we enlisted Todd Beene and Stephen Egerton. So yeah, two more buddies (so) it’s twice as good, in my opinion. I can’t wait until 2030! It’s gonna be three times better and we’re gonna do it at sea!”
Frank Turner needs no introduction for Xtra Mile Recordings fans. Jon Snodgrass is a well-respected figure of the US punk and Americana scene and is a member of Armchair Martian, Drag The River and Scorpios as well as a solo artist. Snodgrass has collaborated with Chad Rex, Hagfish, Descendents, Stephen Egerton, Joey Cape, Lagwagon, Bad Astronaut, Cory Branan, Chuck Ragan (Revival Tour and Hot Water Music), Tim McIlirath (Rise Against), Chris Wollard (Hot Water Music and Ship Thieves), Vinnie Fiorello (Less Than Jake), Scott Reynolds (ALL), Mike Herrera (MxPx), Arliss Nancy, and Jimmy Islip. Snodgrass will release his new album, Tace, on A-F Records on 9 October.
Buddies II: Still Buddies tracklisting
1. Still Buddies
2. Retractions
3. S-Bar
4. Stephen Plays The Drums
5. MacBeth
6. Bad Times Good Vibes
7. The Age Of A Dog
8. The Fleas
9. Hold Me Homie
10. The Earth Is Flat
Instagram: @FrankTurner // Facebook: facebook.com/frankturnermusic // Twitter: @frankturner YouTube: /frankturner
Instagram: @jonsnodgrass // Facebook: facebook.com/jon.snodgrass // Twitter: @jon_snodgrass