The '90s alt-pop legend Sheryl Crow is not slowing down anytime soon. Crow released her last album Evolution in 2024, shortly after she was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Since then, she has released a protest song called "The New Normal," co-produced Stevie Nicks' comeback single "The Lighthouse," and taken part in all sorts of benefit shows and all-star covers. Now, she's got another album ready to go, and I really, really hope its cover art is not AI. That would bum me out.
Crow's upcoming LP, the one with the hopefully-not-AI cover, is called Pick You Up, and it drops this fall. It's only got seven songs, and I wouldn't necessarily call that a full-length unless we're talking about Godspeed You! Black Emperor or whoever, but who knows, maybe some of them are really long. Crow co-wrote all seven songs with longtime collaborator Jeff Trott.
The lead single from Pick You Up is closing track "Freedom Bus," and it's a duet with the Arkansas folk singer-songwriter Jesse Welles. Last year, we posted another Jesse Welles duet, Margo Price's "Don't Wake Me Up." My friend Bryan, the guy from the hardcore column about the Drug Church show, keeps telling me I should check out Jesse Welles. Then I watch 45 seconds of a YouTube video, and I'm like, "Hmm, I dunno, maybe next time." Welles sounds fine on this, though. "Freedom Bus" is an idealistic ramble about how we should all accept each other and not be assholes. Check it out below.
TRACKLIST:
01 “Freight Train”
02 “Perfect”
03 “Pick You Up”
04 “Flat Earth”
05 “I’ve Got Your Number”
06 “Heaven Help Us”
07 “Freedom Bus” (feat. Jesse Welles)
Pick You Up is out 10/9 on Big Green Barn/Thirty Tigers. Pre-order it here, and read our 2024 We've Got A File On You interview with Sheryl Crow here.
