With ‘Say No More’, Boston’s Autumn Hollow emerges from the shadows of their acclaimed past and charges into new sonic territory, wielding the wisdom of well-worn strings and the electricity of revival.
From the first notes, it’s clear this is a band no longer content to whisper. Brendan Murphy’s voice- gravel-rich and gut-level- guides the listener through tales that feel ripped from notebooks scrawled in barrooms and back porches. There’s a clarity to his delivery that commands attention. These songs are stories, confessions, and declarations of presence.
Produced in collaboration with Elio DeLuca at the Soul Shop, the album pulses with a texture that’s worn and wild. The rhythm section- newly minted with Chuck Vath on bass and Ian McMillan on drums- anchors the record with a thrum that knows exactly when to burn and when to breathe. Meanwhile, guitarist Mike Burke weaves threads of twang, fuzz, and fire through every track, his playing as expressive as the lyrics it supports.
The textures only get richer. With contributions from a talented circle of guests- Gabriel Hirshfeld’s banjo, Will Ellis Johnson’s pedal steel, and Sarah Leveque’s backing vocals among them- ‘Say No More’ builds a layered soundscape that’s equal parts open sky and brick-wall intimacy. TW Walsh’s mastering brings it all home, capturing the warmth of a room and the scope of a canyon.
What makes this record truly shine is its duality. It nods to the past- there’s more than a hint of Laurel Canyon and early alt-country here- but it doesn’t linger in nostalgia. Instead, it leans forward, unafraid to colour outside the lines of Americana. Tracks stretch and shift, resisting formula. The band isn’t afraid to let a groove simmer or a lyric bite. There’s space here for both comfort and confrontation.
Autumn Hollow are carving a path through roots rock, and mapping new ground with each step. ‘Say No More’ is a testament to a band not content to rest on what they’ve done, but driven by where they’re going. It’s music with mud on its boots and a spark in its eyes- honest, alive, and ready for the next stage.