Sad Daddy captures the full breadth and scope of their 16-year career with their fourth studio record. Ozark Shine pushes the boundaries of their work, yet it remains fully perched in their signature styles and craftsmanship. These 13 songs from the four-piece Arkansas-born string band (Melissa Carper, Rebecca Patek, Brian Martin, and Joe Sundell), all recorded at the Bomb Shelter in Nashville, TN, feel earnest and truly lived-in. With songs such as “Let’s Go Fishin’,” written by Patek, the group finds their way back to the things that truly matter, like going fishing down by the river with friends.
On “Little Ozark Cabin,” they drill down to the importance of perspective in all things. “I just might go fishing in the creek today. I’ll pick a lazy tune out on my front porch if it rains,” sings Sundell over a wonderfully soothing melody. That kind of serenity is also found “Frazzie,” “Bootlegger,” and “I’ll Come Running,” further cementing their album’s core intention. Even the mostly a cappella “Did We Turn Off the Stove,” written by Carper, nods to the simple action of literally turning off the stove before leaving the house.
