Three decades into an illustrious and multifaceted career, Kevin Griffin finally decided to write and record his first full-length solo albumAnywhere You Go to be released October 4, 2019 via BMG. The album will tie into his fall tour and is on sale now.
The Better Than Ezra frontman, award-winning songwriter, and Pilgrimage Festival co-founder has added yet another persona to his resume: solo troubadour. Buoyed by minimal production, sweeping vocal harmonies, and narrative lyricism, he’s penned some of his most intimate, inimitable, and irresistible tunes to date.
“My guiding rule was to do something different; to just do the opposite of my first instinct. I wanted to bring all the music that I’m moved by into a collection of songs that didn’t pull from my usual bag of tricks,” says Griffin. “I started with no expectations, considerations, or concessions other than just wanting to make music that I loved, and I think because of that the whole process has been a joy. I wanted to make a collection of the music that inspires me—from when I was a kid in the seventies to the songs I hear on Spotify playlists now. The title speaks to that. Sonically, the songs go in a lot of different places.”
Over the past year, Griffin started toying with ideas for the songs that would eventually comprise the record. Taking his time, he reacquainted himself with classics such as Neil Young’s Harvest and Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks as well as devouring music from the likes of Dawes, Father John Misty, and Mac DeMarco, to name a few.
Glide is thrilled to premiere “Got Off Easy” – an artful smirky indie rocker full of junkyard pop and first listen catharsis. Griffin reintroduces himself as one of rock’s finest and most misunderstood songwriters, where the worlds of soulful and gritty meet seamlessly.
Got Off Easy” came to me in a rush of lyrics. It was literally finished in 20 minutes,” says Griffin. “Great memories of the recklessness and arrogance of being young and thinking you know everything. It’s also my homage to the band Spoon.”
Photo Credit: Alysse Gafkjen
