Listen to Chris Shiflett’s "Banger" of a Single, “Black Top White Lines”
The Foo Fighters guitarist unveils lyric video ahead of solo album release
Foo Fighters guitarist and solo artist Chris Shiflett has released a new single accompanied by a lyric video. Shiflett's latest track, “Black Top White Lines,” appears ahead of his much anticipated solo album slated for release this year via Blue Élan Records.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is considered a modern-day guitar hero by many, with Rolling Stone calling him "Americana's biggest rockstar." And while the songwriter’s recent releases are certainly in the country rock camp, his diverse musical endeavours have previously seen him play in punk bands like No Use for a Name and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.
Following up last year's, “Born & Raised” and “Long Long Year,” Shiflett’s new single is an amped up rocker that was co-written with Nashville’s Jaren Johnston (The Cadillac Three) and John Osborne (Brothers Osborne.)
With “Black Top White Lines” putting a rock and roll spin on the traditional murder balled format, Shiflett says it felt like they had “turned a classic Country trope on its head a little.”
Also featuring Nashville studio legend Tom Bukovac, “Black Top White Lines” was co-penned in 2020 with Johnston and Osborne via Zoom.
Speaking of the song’s genesis, Shiflett recalls, “Jaren and I were going over song ideas, and it’d been a minute since we wrote it, so when we revisited the track he was like, ‘Dude you gotta record this one… It’s a banger!’
“Right away in the studio I could tell it was a bit of a left turn for me musically but that’s also what I like about it.”
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This week's press release promises there will be more info about the new Jaren Johnston-produced LP to follow soon.
“A big part of my inspiration to work with Jaren on this record was because I knew he’d push me out of my comfort zone into new territory,” said Shiflett.
Purchase or stream “Black Top White Lines” here.
Rod Brakes is a music journalist with an expertise in guitars. Having spent many years at the coalface as a guitar dealer and tech, Rod's more recent work as a writer covering artists, industry pros and gear includes contributions for leading publications and websites such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Guitar World, Guitar Player and MusicRadar in addition to specialist music books, blogs and social media. He is also a lifelong musician.
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