Kansas City Music Blog

Dimestore Hemingway is the awesome name of the new album from twangy Kansas roots rockers True North. The clever name nails the intelligent, everyman spirit of this band.

TN sent me an advance copy of the album last week. The songs -- many of which I've been enjoying at live shows for a long time -- are full of frontman Gary McKnight's playful songwriting. The mournful "Near Mrs" is a personal favorite. "Three Chords and the Truth" is a fun little country rocker. And "Sideways" is one of TN's classic odes to hard-drinking.

Elsewhere on the album, the band pays references Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, both lyrically and musically.

Grab a free MP3 from Dimestore Hemingway after the jump.

TN recorded Dimestore Hemingway in Nashville, with producer Jeff Brock. I don't know anything about Brock, but it seems that he helped the album sound sharp and professional. I've always thought that TN was a Nashville-quality country band. And the songs are even better in person.

MP3: True North, "Three Chords & the Truth"

True North will play a CD-release party this Saturday night at the Jazzhaus in Lawrence. The band really likes that venue -- it gets name-checked in the liner notes. "It's a loooong way down those Jazzhaus steps, one shot at a time," reads a little note next to the lyrics for "Sideways." Grab a free track with the band's blessing, below.