Ten Penny Gypsy Fugitive Heart

July 10, 2020

Ten Penny Gypsy

Fugitive Heart

FUGITIVE HEART is the new full-length release from five-time Arkansas CMA nominee TEN PENNY GYPSY. The album releases July 10th, 2020 and is available on all streaming services and on TEN PENNY GYPSY’S official website. This is the Americana groups second album, and they again teamed up with renowned multi-instrumentalist producer Anthony Crawford. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, and TEN PENNY GYPSY is on a roll.

TEN PENNY GYPSY’S 2017 self-titled debut album garnered five Arkansas CMA nominations, “Album of the Year” in 2018, “Americana Artist of the Year” and “Vocal Group of the Year” in both 2018 and 2019. Justin Patterson has been playing guitar and writing songs for as long as he can remember, developing his own unique sound. His songs are thoughtful and easily relatable to his audience. Early influences Gordon Lightfoot, Stephen Stills and James Taylor provided the foundation for his unique blend of folk-rock-Americana. Laura Lynn Danley grew up sharing the stage and music with her family from the tender age of four. No doubt her upbringing contributes to the award nominating harmonies on FUGITIVE HEART. They both contributed the ten original songs on the album. Together they are TEN PENNY GYPSY.

FUGITIVE HEART is an eclectic, upbeat album combining Americana and Country/Blues sounds, that thematically explores ” the uncertainties of separation”. Written and recorded well before the pandemic, the songs take on new meaning reminding us that even the most unique circumstances are in the end, really quite universal. That’s good songwriting. TEN PENNY GYPSY have entered into this second album better vocally and lyrically. They’ve been practicing.

“Making Headway” is lyrically catchy with a toe tapping flatpicking groove about holding on to that groove to the end.

“Brick by Brick” marches forward with opposing blues and bluegrass licks that play well together despite their differences. Given that the song addresses the stones we throw, and the walls we put up, that eventually tear us apart, the dueling genres are appropriate. That’s the 2020 Arkansas CMA Guitarist of the Year nominee Buddy Case adding those hot licks.

The title song, “Fugitive Heart” has beautiful vocal harmony, the guitar driven instrumentation evokes moving on while being pleasant and comforting at the same time.

“Highway 65” Justin Pattersons vocals are deep and soothing and perfectly suited for the theme of the song.

“Lovely Melancholy” features Laura Lynn Danley on vocals and is pure country.

“Road to Memphis” is a highway song. Again the harmonies and flatpicking, vintage drumbeat and sweet slide. One of those songs that will keep you between the lines.

“Mexico Flyer” is a sweet waltzing lament

“Lonesome No More”, no lie, is my favorite song on the album. It holds up from the first play to the repeated replays, (and there have been many). I’m expecting great things from this song and TEN PENNY GYPSY can pull it off. It’s a beautiful story. The harmonies soar. It’s got a chorus that will have you singing along, and it will stick with you, especially in those dark moments. Anthony Crawford’s unmistakable flat-picking, (my goodness he is formidable with a guitar), is flawless.

“Train Won’t Wait For Me” is a beautifully crafted song surrounding honest lyrics and heartfelt vocals.

The Bluegrass tinged, but purely Americana “Your True You” is the last song on the album, (not to worry, you’ll hit replay), and like the songs above is thoughtfully arranged and beautifully presented. Each song on FUGITIVE HEART is destined to become a favorite.

FUGITIVE HEART was recorded over several sessions in 2019 at producer Anthony Crawford’s Admiral Bean Studio in Loxley, AL. Supremely talented, the multi-instrumentalist contributed acoustic and electric guitar, Wurlitzer, lap steel, bass, drums, piano, percussion, strings, violin, mandolin, and backing vocals. His production has also improved on this second album. An award nominated songwriter himself, Crawford was a member of Neil Young’s renowned backing bands The Shocking Pinks and The International Harvesters in the 1980’s, and toured extensively with such musical icons as Steve Winwood and Dwight Yoakam. He is currently a member of the acclaimed Americana duo Sugarcane Jane, and the award-winning Americana supergroup Willie Sugarcapps

For FUGITIVE HEART 2020 Arkansas CMA Guitarist of the Year nominee Buddy Case contributed to all but three songs on the album. Case is an accomplished singer-songwriter who excels at guitar. Listening to Mexican families playing guitar at an early age has influenced his guitar style. If you hear a bit of Spanish guitar on the album, that would be Buddy Case.

With FUGITIVE HEART, I predict an Arkansas CMA win for TEN PENNY GYPSY. Check it out! You’ll see what I mean.