In 2014 novelist/songwriter Willy Vlautin (of Richmond Fontaine, one of our faves) determined a different direction and delineated The Delines for which he wrote a new album’s worth of songs.  That album would be released as Colfax, which would turn out one of our favorites of the year.  The band features singer Amy Boone (Damnations), Vlautin, Sean Oldham (Richmond Fontaine), Jenny Conlee (Decemberists), Tucker Jackson and Freddy Trujillo.

The idea for The Delines evidently occurred while out on a Richmond Fontaine tour on which Boone was backing up the band on a couple of songs.  During the tour Boone would sing soul songs to warm up.  Some of Boone’s soul-singing made on impression on Vlautin who later penned several songs he hoped Boone would sing.  Vlautin then demoed those songs at producer John Askew’s (Dodos, Neko Case) studio and shared them with Boone.  Long story short:  Boone liked the songs, the band was culled, and the resulting recorded parts were mixed expertly by Askew into what would become the affecting album Colfax, which was released on Decor and El Cortez Records.

We love Vlautin’s short-story tellings in the songs, and The Delines’ country-soul musical mien fits the songs perfectly, with Boone’s honest vocals telling the deceptively simple tales so well.  Colfax is a fantastic listen from stem to stern.  To get a feel, first check out below four songs performed by the band for KEXP.  Though set in the Gulf, The Oil Rigs at Night strikes home in particular given our rigs offshore in the Santa Barbara Channel.

Afterwards, and since it bears repeating, check out a live recording of the album’s evolved title track for NorderstedtMusik.