Great Peacock’s new release Gran Pavo Real [Spanish for Great Peacock] (Ropeadope Records) is a collection of the kinds of song that will commiserate with your longest day and empathize with your worst breakup moments. If you are in need of some catharsis, this album is for you. Produced by Dexter Green (Jason Isbell, Elizabeth Cook), mixed by Joe Costa, and recorded at Nashville Sound Emporium, this album is the second for the group and destined for widespread appeal. Guitar frontmen Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd are locked in with rhythm section Nick Recio on drums and Tom Blankenship (My Morning Jacket) on bass; Ralph Lofton (Jennifer Holliday) joined in the project on “gospel keys.”
“Oh Deep Water” strikes emotionally with Carl Broemel on pedal steel, and here the band highlights its great Americana intuition for crafting songs that move people. “One Way Ticket” is another anthem “I’m a back row Baptist with stories to tell.” “Begging to Stay” and “Heartbreak Comin Down” address the fight or flight response that paralyzes us all in the initial phases of breakup. “Let’s Get Drunk” is has universal appeal with its outlining of a classic drunken date night. “All I Really Want is You” presents emotionally raw vocals longing against an acoustic backdrop. Each song on the album resonates anew with the sorrowful side of life. When commiseration and feeling understood in your darker moments is required, you’ll reach for this one again and again.