The Mavericks to Release New Album “Mono”
Saving Country Music’s 2013 Album of the Year was not Jason Isbell’s breathtaking Southeastern, or Sturgill Simpson’s breakout High Top Mountain, but the comeback record from the Latin-inspired Raul Malo and The Mavericks called In Time. The reason was because in Saving Country Music’s esteemed judgement, no other record in 2013 afforded a much musical enjoyment as The Mavericks’ first studio effort in a decade.
Now The Mavericks have announced that they’ve been in the studio again and will release the followup to In Time called Mono on February 17th, 2015. The band made the announcement while performing at the Grand Ole Opry on November 18th. Like their previous album, it will be released by the Valory Music Group, a division of Big Machine Records. Yes, the same label of Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line, and Brantley Gilbert. “You know, they did right by us,” Raul Malo tells Rolling Stone. “Heck, they let us make a record at this stage. I know people probably have a hard time imagining this, but it’s not the easiest thing to get these days, to be able to make records and have a record contract.”
However The Mavericks will be moving forward down a man. Robert Reynolds is taking some time off to attend to his ailing wife Angie Crabtree Reynolds who is battling Cancer. That leaves the core of The Mavericks as singer/songwriter/guitarist Raul Malo, lead guitarist Eddie Perez (guitar player for Dwight Yoakam & others), drummer Paul Deakin, and Jerry Dale McFadden on keys. The band will also be embarking on a world tour around Mono‘s release (SEE DATES).
Jack Williams
November 21, 2014 @ 12:16 pm
Looks like February is shaping up to be a good month for releases. Steve Earle, James McMurtry, and Rhiannon Giddens have new albums coming out that month as well. So that’s four I’ll be picking up for certain.
Synthetic Paper
November 21, 2014 @ 12:17 pm
I really loved “In Time”, and I am definitely looking forward to this.
Michele Grant
November 21, 2014 @ 12:25 pm
So happy to have my tickets to the Boston show for 2 days post release date. Robert will be missed but he is a real man and knows whats more important. Angie Crabtree Reynolds you be sure to kick cancer’s ass Beautiful!!
markf
November 21, 2014 @ 12:38 pm
Playing a salsa tune there!
Sorry to see they’re not coming anywhere close, I’d be going.
musicfan
November 21, 2014 @ 1:36 pm
Keep checking–I bet they will add dates!
Albert
November 21, 2014 @ 2:38 pm
Certainly good news. I’ve always appreciated that the Mavericks not only write and know their way around a hook but never get in the way of one . Are they or were they ever really a country band ? Hmmmm . I think that point is open for debate . Saying that , I would much rather have them accepted and plying their trade under the country umbrella than not have them around at all , which would most certainly be the case were they mounting an assault on today’s pop music climate.
Kev
November 21, 2014 @ 11:05 pm
Great news, looking forward to it. And have tickets ready for their London date!
marc
November 22, 2014 @ 12:04 am
If the Mavericks ever did an episode of CMT’s Crossroads……..It would just be them.
Jim Jones
November 22, 2014 @ 9:06 am
Clever… I can’t think of another band that is able to blend so many styles ad influences and make it their own. I imagine a big part of their success on stage is the variety they offer, not to mention the energy.
As to the earlier question of whether The Mavericks are country… I would say yes. The modern definition of country seems to be a simple threshold, once you have reached an unspecified number of references to ‘Country’ culture you acquire the country label. If you look at the history of the genre, you may find that the common elements are songs about life experiences, both good and bad, both real and fictional, serious and amusing, happy and sad. The lyrics came straight from the soul. The best feature the musicians as much as the vocalists. I compare Raul Malo with Dwight Yoakam: the pay their rep sects and demonstrate a true knowledge and appreciation of the history of the genre, and they follow in the footsteps of so many greats by putting their unique imprint on the music and offering something special to the listener. They create their own music. It is an expression of who they are. They draw no boundaries. That is country.
Luke Bryan thinks a Nudie Suit is…(I’ll let someone else fill in the blank)
Jack Williams
November 22, 2014 @ 10:35 am
I can”™t think of another band that is able to blend so many styles ad influences and make it their own.
Los Lobos.
I saw both bands within four days of other earlier this year. I’m a long time Los Lobos fan, so I’ve seen them a bunch of times. First time seeing the Mavericks, though. Two great shows. And being in the same room as Raul Malo when he covers both Roy Orbison and Patsy Cline is a breathtaking experience.
marc
November 23, 2014 @ 7:26 pm
Jack, can’t go wrong with Los Lobos. Quality music by quality musicians. Every now and again when I go to Los Angeles I will play “One Nite, One Time” takes me back to when I saw Colors. I have seen them a couple of times and it’s always a party ala a Mavericks show.
Jim L.
December 4, 2014 @ 4:19 pm
I have to recommend a tune by Raul Malo that many fans may have missed:
“Early Morning Rain” from the Nashville Acoustic Sessions album.
http://www.amazon.com/Nashville-Acoustic-Sessions-Malo/dp/B0001MDPNQ
Raul’s voice is so rich and smooth here — I never get tired of replaying that song. It’s a Gordon Lightfoot tune, but Raul takes it to another level.
Also several other great songs on that album. Enjoy, and thank me later.