“While the topics on Undesirable are often tough, much of the music itself is hopeful, even joyful.” — NPR Music
“…highlights how effective Americana can be when it plugs in the guitars.” — Rolling Stone Country
“…music fueled by a Southern Rock vibe that provides a sonic glimpse of an alternate universe where Bruce Springsteen was born in Gainesville, Florida, and helped form the Heartbreakers.” — Billboard
Becky Warren is set to release her second solo album, Undesirable, on October 19, 2018, and NPR Music is hosting a full stream of the record as a “First Listen” beginning today. Produced by Dan Knobler (Rodney Crowell, Lake Street Dive, Kelsey Waldon), Undesirable sees Warren relay the essence of human experience and shine a spotlight on the relatable, common ties that bind us together regardless of our demographic. It’s a record about humanity, as Warren distills the stories of a group of entrepreneurs trying to work their way out of poverty in her home base of Nashville, Tennessee. NPR Music states, “Most of the tracks here don’t read as songs about homelessness, at least not on cursory listen. They chart heartbreak, new love, tough odds and quiet triumph in relatable ways, with a telling detail here or there that hints at each protagonist’s broader life situation,” going on to add, “While the topics onUndesirable are often tough, much of the music itself is hopeful, even joyful.” Undesirable will be available digitally and on CD and can be pre-ordered now HERE.
STREAM BECKY WARREN’S UNDESIRABLE VIA NPR MUSIC
Undesirable follows Warren’s critically acclaimed solo debut, War Surplus, that was partly inspired by her own life and told the gritty love story of an Iraq War veteran and his girlfriend. Warren did not intend to write a second concept album until she found herself inspired by another group of people who seem “othered” by society: the individuals selling Nashville’s street paper, The Contributor, which is produced by a local non-profit aimed at providing an earned income opportunity for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Intrigued by the concept, Warren started to approach the vendors on the street, introduce herself, and ask to talk with them while they sold the paper. Rolling Stone Country says the resulting 11-song set “makes it clear we’re all more similar than we think,” as the catchy, guitar-driven tracks tell an array of compelling stories where homelessness is never the protagonists’ defining characteristic.
Undesirable’s blistering lead single, “We’re All We Got,” features vocals from Indigo Girl Amy Ray, and Billboard calls it “an anthem for those fighting back from a few bad hands dealt their way.” Following the song’s debut, Rolling Stone named Warren one of August 2018’s “10 New Country Artists You Need To Know,” saying, “There’s a bit of Neil Young to Undesirable‘s first track…a song about rising up from the ashes when the odds are stacked against you — and one that highlights how effective Americana can be when it plugs in the guitars.” For her latest single, “The Drake Motel,” Warren released a video that features her friend and Nashville entrepreneur Shawn Lesley and highlights a group of Americans sometimes referred to as ‘motel homeless’ — meaning they make enough money to afford basic housing but are unable to meet other requirements needed to obtain a more stable rental. With “The Drake Motel” giving us a glimpse into Lesley’s life, American Songwriter praises, “From the PTSD experienced by war veterans to poverty, [Warren] explores territory most musicians shy away from…her newest single ‘The Drake Motel’ is no exception.” The video can be viewed/shared now HERE.
Following the release of Undesirable, Warren will perform the new songs in the city that inspired them with a Nashville album release show at the High Watt on Friday, October 26. Warren’s friend and mentor Amy Ray happen to be scheduled to perform a solo show at the adjoining venue, Mercy Lounge, on the same night, and the venues are currently offering a special $25 package that will allow attendees to move between the two shows. Tickets are available for purchase now HERE.
Becky Warren’s Undesirable Tracklist
1. We’re All We Got
2. Nobody Wants to Rock N Roll No More
3. Dabbs Avenue
4. Sunshine State
5. Carmen
6. Highway Lights
7. Half-Hearted Angel
8. You’re Always Drunk
9. Let Me Down Again
10. Valentine
11. The Drake Motel