“This is an album about the dignity of labor and the courage of workers who refuse to give up hope,” says Nelson, “Even as the modern world arrays itself ever more exploitatively against their interests.”
For Executive Meeting begins with the afore-mentioned elegy for radical, tragic Pop Art titan Barney Bubbles and ends with a revved-up cover of Rosanne Cash’s peerless “Seven Year Ache.” Throughout the ten songs in-between, Nelson and band weave together stories about figures like Steve Cropper, P.G. Wodehouse, and Doug Yule. She visits her hometown and ponders Jack Kerouac’s house in her childhood neighborhood. She laments the loss of David Berman and Adam Schlesinger, and duets with Patterson Hood from the Drive-By Truckers on an infectious tribute to John Prine. She ponders the desecration of the music industry and drinks her beer in a tavern and sings the working gal’s blues. Loaded with vivid detail and memorable riffs, it proves what in-the-know critics have been saying for years: Elizabeth Nelson is one of our best songwriters.
For Executive Meeting was recorded in Durham, North Carolina and produced by Nelson along with Jason Richmond (Avett Brothers, Clem Snide). In addition to Nelson The Paranoid Style are: Timothy Bracy (Guitar), William Corrin (Bass, Harmonica), Jon Langmead (Drums) and William Matheny (Guitar, Keyboards).
U.S. tour dates to be announced soon