Paul Thorn’s new record, Too Blessed to Be Stressed, is probably his best yet. His last release was a very successful covers record (What The Hell Is Goin’ On?), so it’s fitting that Thorn comes out this time with a group of original songs that will likely be covered by other artists. This record runs the gamut from near gospel to dirt road Americana and even ventures into pop along the way. Throughout, the hooks are big, the lines are memorable. It’s the kind of record that makes you feel better, ready to take on the world, like a musical version of 5-Hour Energy. Thorn has been making folks feel better for quite a while, particularly in his live shows. If you’ve seen him live, you know what I’m talking about. It’s a physical experience, which is not surprising considering that he once went six rounds with Roberto Duran.
I first encountered Thorn when I heard “Burn Down the Trailer Park” from his 1999 release, Ain’t Love Strange. That song sports one of the best lines ever: “She came home with Aqua Velva on her breath.” This collection of songs is a bit more mainstream, perhaps, but it’s still Paul Thorn. He says that all the songs but one are intentionally external, about the human condition, rather than about him. The one exception, he says, is “I Backslide On Friday,” a daily journal of repentance and relapse. Thorn’s being a bit too kind to own that one all by himself, in my view. I don’t even wait till Friday to backslide. The record listens well all the way through, but I’ve got my favorites. “Everything’s Gonna Be All Right” is just what it sounds like it might be, and it rocks the listener right into believing that it just might be true. “Mediocrity Is King” explores the other side, calling us all out for being less than we should be. The title track comes from a comment someone made to Thorn in response to a normal exchange of pleasantries. It’s the kind of thing you might hear around Tupelo, Mississippi – Thorn’s songwriting continues to be informed by his Northeast Mississippi roots. I really like “Old Stray Dogs & Jesus” – Thorn sings that they’re the only friend he’s got. I suppose everyone has felt that way at some time, but this song, and this record, make you smile about it.
Too Blessed to Be Stressed was released on August 19, 2014.
