Kentucky is a state that’s been on a hot streak producing ground-breaking Americana/rock artists lately: Sturgill Simpson, possibly the best musician to make popular music in the second half of the 2010’s onward, Chris Stapleton, who is making some of the best traditional blues you’ll hear, Tyler Childers, whose work may be best described as traditional country that’s set in a contemporary world, and many others. Now comes Jeremy Pinnell.

All hail from the Bluegrass State.

All are exceptional.

Pinnell has previously released two honky tonk albums that were well-received, but here, he covers Concrete Blonde’s 1989 “Joey” with a lonesome, wrenching solo rendition. 2020 being 2020, he recorded it on his phone in his home and released the results on YouTube. I’d say he did a damn fine job and his version captured the tone and tenor of its time perfectly.And as I always say: there’s a lot of great new music out there, it’s just harder to find than ever.

This song is proof of just that.