Curation Records Looks To Nashville and Strikes Cosmic Country Gold With Sean Thompson's Weird Ears

The Nashville session guitarist's cosmic country debut fits in perfectly on the label's self-proclaimed "California Curated Cool" roster

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Longtime readers should be familiar with my love of Los Angeles-based Curation Records, an indie label founded by Beachwood Sparks/GospelbeacH/Further member Brent Rademaker. Whether it’s last year’s GospelbeacH bubblegum pop covers EP, Triptides’ So Many Days EP (the new full-length is excellent), or others I haven’t written about like Pacific Range, I’m almost always going to love their releases.

Aside from their deliciously retro ties to a 70s sound deep within lost record crates, the theme that ties these bands together is Curation Records’ slogan, “California Curated Cool.” With a roster of west coast artists, the label has kept things close to home since its start. That changes this week with releasing the hypnotic cosmic country stylings of Nashville’s Sean Thompson, who fits in perfectly on the label’s lineup.

Thompson, a longtime Music City staple, got his start in Promised Land Sound before working as a session guitarist following the group’s dissolution. After some singles, covers, and an EP, Thompson is ready to take center stage with his debut album, Weird Ears, a blazing eleven-song set of fully cooked old-time country, with a side of early Dead grooves for good measure.

Backed by the top-notch Teddy and the Roughriders, there’s a steady theme to Thompson’s lyrics of spending your time outside, preferably with a doobie behind the ear and a canine companion’s nose to the trail. “New Trailway Boogie,” a name play on “New Speedway Boogie,” finds Thompson spending a little time on the mountain, and a little time on the hill, as Weird Ears is another pandemic snapshot of an artist learning life without the road. The song’s main riff ascends and descends like the ridgeline Thompson is hiking, and it’s an instant grab to bring the listener into the Weird Ears world. The record’s first single, “Saturday Drive,” takes the open air vibes to the car as the Roughriders stomp right on down the road.

For all of the celestial cruisers like these songs and the synth-kissed “Curse the Conscience,” Thompson also proves to be a damn fine balladeer. “Before the Flowers Bloom” blossoms thanks to some gorgeous pedal steel guitar, while “Sad Old Singers” channels Neil Young at his most engaging and wouldn’t feel out of place on Harvest Moon. After grooving highlight “Alley Scrapper” and the yee-hawness of “Put Yr Weird Ears,” Thompson closes out the set with “Head to the Smokies,” which combines everything that has come before for a heavenly affirmation of nature’s puissance.

There’s no fat on Weird Ears with even the midpoint jam “Instrumental Health” proving vital to the overall vision of the record. A decade in the making, Thompson’s solo debut is well worth the wait. Thompson tells Nashville Scene he intended to make this first record as accessible as possible. As for what the next album’s influences are, Thompson says, “Early Dead, Fairport Convention, Nick Drake, Can and Stereolab.”

Oh yeah, I’m in.

Weird Ears is available now on Curation Records.

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Like this record? Here’s more!

GospelbeacH - Jam Jam

Triptides - So Many Days EP

Rose City Band - Earth Trip

Erin Rae - Lighten Up

The Pink Stones - Introducing… The Pink Stones

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