New Josh Williams album this month

Modern Man - Josh WilliamsGreat news from Rounder Records. Their next project for Josh Williams, titled Modern Day Man, is due to hit on March 25.

It’s almost hard to believe given his youth, but this will be his fifth CD since Josh began recording as a solo artist while still in his teens. And like several of these earlier albums, Williams has brought in J.D. Crowe as producer.

Modern Day Man is the album the bluegrass world was expecting from Josh, metaphorically speaking, when he was sidelined by drug addiction in 2008. Not this specific recording, of course, but a mature effort from this talented young singer and guitarist. His dalliance with methamphetamine cost him his job with Rhonda Vincent in 2008, a position to which he has returned after successfully completing drug rehab in 2012.

Josh says it also nearly cost him his life, not to mention his family and career in music. But all that is behind him now, and Modern Day Man is meant to serve as his statement of recovery and salvation.

Now clean for going on six years, Williams has assembled a dozen songs from top writers, and recorded them with super pickers like Rob Ickes, Sam Bush, Sierra Hull, Scott Vestal, Aubrey Haynie, Aaron McDaris, and others. Long time fans will recognize titles like Mordecai, which Josh had recorded previously, and The Prodigal Son, which he has performed for years on stage.

Unsurprisingly, many of the tracks feature tales of personal darkness, coming from renowned songwriters Ronnie Bowman and Jerry Douglas, Tom T. Hall, Chris Stapleton and Brandon Rickman, and Harley Allen. But others carry the message of redemption, which is equally close to Williams’ heart.

Producer J.D. Crowe has high praise for this new record, and for the artistry of Josh Williams who he has known since the young guitarist was just a boy.

“This album is different than anything Josh has done. Josh is not only a bluegrass artist, he can sing what I call good country music. He’s very versatile. No matter what kind of music it is, get him the right material and he can do any of it.”

Music from Modern Day Man should start hitting bluegrass radio this week and next. It’s been a long wait, and expectations are high.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.