Sarah Shook and the Disarmers’ impressive debut, Sidelong, was first released through CD Baby two years ago. Fast forward to 2017, with Shook signing onto Bloodshot Records, and re-releasing Sidelong as a teaser to widen the band’s audience before their newest LP, Disarmers, comes out in 2018. Sidelong is a raw, shit-kickin’ country punk album that explores themes of drinking, loneliness, hopelessness and hard living. Highlights include: the title-track; the honky tonk swagger on “The Nail”; the gunslinger ballad “No Name”; the homage to a country star on “Dwight Yoakam”; the tongue-and-cheek apology to mom on “Make It Up to Mama”; and the stirring, hard living track “Fuck Up.” Sidelong is the best alt-country/country punk album I’ve heard in a long time and Sidelong leaves me wanting more from Sarah Shook and the Disarmers! – Written by JFelton
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