Rodney Crowell
Then Again
Album · Country · 2026 · New West Records, LLC · Just dropped! Listen now
The songwriting legend mines his vaults for a collection of unearthed gems.
Of Nashville’s many proverbial vaults, Rodney Crowell’s is, no doubt, one of the deepest. The Texas-born, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, known for his collaborative friendships with country royalty like Emmylou Harris and the late Guy Clark, is celebrated for his poetic lyrics and nuanced performances, both of which feature prominently on this collection of mostly decades-old material.
Crowell conceived of the bulk of Then Again in the mid-aughts, initially shelving the music to pursue a different creative direction. Upon revisiting the material in recent years, he felt connected to the music in a way he hadn’t upon its completion.
That’s fortunate for listeners, as Then Again boasts jewel after rootsy jewel. “Are You One of Us?” is the final song Crowell and Clark recorded together, casting the otherwise groovy, T Bone Burnett-esque tune in a poignant light. “Whatcha Gonna Do Now #2” lets Crowell get weird, infusing pop and New Age into the mix with help from fellow left-of-center artists Chely Wright and Lyle Lovett.
Crowell also gifts listeners with two newly recorded songs on Then Again, connecting the project to the present. “Go Light a Candle” bridges generations, bringing Harris together with acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Lera Lynn, while “If I Could Speak to Leonard” pays tribute to the late Leonard Cohen, whose work as a songwriter remains one of Crowell’s artistic North Stars.
Then Again
Rodney Crowell
The songwriting legend mines his vaults for a collection of unearthed gems.
Of Nashville’s many proverbial vaults, Rodney Crowell’s is, no doubt, one of the deepest. The Texas-born, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, known for his collaborative friendships with country royalty like Emmylou Harris and the late Guy Clark, is celebrated for his poetic lyrics and nuanced performances, both of which feature prominently on this collection of mostly decades-old material.
Crowell conceived of the bulk of Then Again in the mid-aughts, initially shelving the music to pursue a different creative direction. Upon revisiting the material in recent years, he felt connected to the music in a way he hadn’t upon its completion.
That’s fortunate for listeners, as Then Again boasts jewel after rootsy jewel. “Are You One of Us?” is the final song Crowell and Clark recorded together, casting the otherwise groovy, T Bone Burnett-esque tune in a poignant light. “Whatcha Gonna Do Now #2” lets Crowell get weird, infusing pop and New Age into the mix with help from fellow left-of-center artists Chely Wright and Lyle Lovett.
Crowell also gifts listeners with two newly recorded songs on Then Again, connecting the project to the present. “Go Light a Candle” bridges generations, bringing Harris together with acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Lera Lynn, while “If I Could Speak to Leonard” pays tribute to the late Leonard Cohen, whose work as a songwriter remains one of Crowell’s artistic North Stars.
