Naked Garden Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

• 1 Entirely Different Stars 07:07
• 2 Civilized Hell 05:35
• 3 Back When I Cared 03:38
• 4 Movie In My Mind 04:19
• 5 Focus On The Music 05:15
• 6 My Own Wave 04:20
• 7 Fade To Black 03:31
• 8 Out In L.A. 05:15
• 9 Couldn't Break Your Heart 04:35
• 10 Speak The Truth 05:13
• 11 Civilized Hell 04:48
• 12 Bad Case 04:54
• 13 Stars Made Of You 04:27
• 14 Where Does Love Go 04:00
• 15 The Way You Say Goodbye 02:19
• Total Runtime 01:09:16

Info for Naked Garden

Co-produced by John Alagia and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real and recorded at Shangri-La in Malibu and The Village Studios in West L.A., Turn Off The News features the band’s most mature and absorbing work of their career. Guest turns include background vocal and instrumental support from: Kesha, Margo Price, Sheryl Crow, Shooter Jennings, Lucius, Willie Nelson and Neil Young. On songs like the Wilburys inspired album opener, “Bad Case,” the poignant and relevant title track, “Turn Off The News,” the 60’s infused R&B of “Save A Little Heartache,” and the vulnerable balladry of “Mystery,” Lukas brings his prodigious gifts to bear, as a songwriter, a singer, a guitarist and band leader – an artist at the peak of his powers, ready to seize the tremendous opportunity at hand.

Produced by Promise of the Real and John Alagia, Naked Garden features 10 brand-new, previously unreleased tracks and five new versions of songs that originally appeared on Turn Off The News (Build A Garden). Wide-ranging in scope and minimalist in production, Naked Garden embodies the band’s shared spiritual connection and consummate musical chemistry. A few of the album’s many highlights includes the studio version of fan favorite “Entirely Different Stars,” the plaintive romance of “Movie In My Mind,” a rough, early-stage version of “Bad Case,” and Lukas’s unearthly falsetto on the classic country waltz, “The Way You Say Goodbye.”

When we walked out of Shangri-La recording studio on the sixth day, we knew we had captured something special. The process had been simple: we would gather around a coffee table on the lawn, Lukas would present a new song on an acoustic guitar, and then we’d go inside and roll tape. The atmosphere was joyful and mellow, yet intensely productive—we rarely spent more than two takes on a song before moving on to the next one. It was so productive, in fact, that there was simply no way to fit all the material on one release. So, think of this project as something of an epilogue to our previous album, Turn Off The News (Build A Garden).

Some of these tracks are alternate performances of songs from that record. Others, like “Bad Case,” appear in their early developmental stages. But the majority of this album comprises songs that, for one reason or another, didn’t make the final cut, and yet were just too special to keep to ourselves.

Some strings are out of tune. Some lyrics are inconsistent. There’s microphone bleed, tape machine buzz, conversations and laughter between takes…that’s how we like it. Our hope is that Naked Garden offers a glimpse behind the curtain, at POTR in our most raw, honest, and naked state. For our band’s name is truly our mantra, and if nothing else, this project is an attempt to make good on our promise.

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

Lukas Nelson Raised in a musical family, Lukas Nelson learned early on that true originality is hard won. Blessed with a measure of musical ability imparted by his father, country music legend, Willie Nelson, it’s clear that Lukas’ gifts have likewise been honed by a singular devotion to craft and a deep appreciation for the sacrifice an artistic life requires. Since forming Promise of the Real 10 years ago, the 28-year old singer/songwriter/guitarist and his bandmates have played hundreds of shows including major festivals and built a devoted, ever expanding following. In 2014, destiny knocked when Neil Young recruited Promise of the Real to be his road and studio band. They have performed with Young around the world and on his two most recent albums – and the rock legend has mentored the grateful young musicians ever since.

Still, with a bounty of invaluable experience under their belts, nothing foretold the artistic leap of Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, the band’s new, self-titled album, a mesmerizing, deeply soulful, endlessly rewarding work, set for release this fall by Fantasy Records.

Recorded at The Village Studios in West Los Angeles Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real was produced by John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer) and features the band’s new six-piece line-up: Tato Melgar (percussion), Anthony LoGerfo (drums) and Corey McCormick (bass, vocals) along with new members Jesse Siebenberg (steel guitars, Farfisa organ, vocals) and Alberto Bof (piano, Wurlitzer). Stefani (Lady Gaga) Germanotta added her signature vocals to the rousing tracks "Carolina” and "Find Yourself,” while Jess Wolfe and Holly Lessig of the Brooklyn-based indie-pop group Lucius provide backing vocals on five of the 12 tracks, evoking Exile on Main St.’s ecstatic, gospel-rooted harmonies.

Focused and self-assured, the new album includes 12 Nelson originals that draw on Lukas’ lineage as well as surrogate uncles like Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, J.J. Cale, The Band, Clapton-era Delaney & Bonnie and of course, mentor Neil Young. An inspired work of cosmic country soul, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real is the sound of American music reborn, sure to be one of 2017’s most distinctive and essential recordings.