The new album by Neal Rosner titled Kentucky chronicles the artist’s 12-year residency in Madisonville, KY and features songs that were written between 1972 -2023. Engineered by Steve Baker, a small studio with a big heart, the album is divided into 2 parts: Plain (secular) and With Peanut (semi- religious).

Indeed, Neal plays keyboards, some percussion and vocals and some rather terrific local musicians are featured on the album, like guitarists Boscoe France and Alonzo Pennington.

Says Neal, “I especially like doing the harmonies. When you sing with yourself you often have a good vocal blend.”

Furthermore, some of the songs are written about past and present events, such as “Micajah” (USA first serial killers), “The Radical” (SLA Shootout in LA 1974), “Red and Blue” (written after the 2016 election, political divisions and the curse of social media), “Le Cirque Des Enfants” (Children’s Circus song) and “What is God/ Seed of Abraham” (we are all one).

1. The Choice
2. Apocalypse Chicago
3. Les Cirque Des Enfants
4. Frances
5. I Guess The Engagement Is Off
6. Me, Myself & I
7. Micajah
8. Red and Blue
9. The Radical
10. What Price Would You Pay
11. It Lives In The Attic
12. Do You Want To Go To Heaven
13. Avinu Malkenu
14. The 3 Prayers Psalm 19:14
15. What Is God/Seed Of Abraham
16. Western Kentucky Come On Down

The album opens on the pleasing melodies within The Choice and the guitar and Hammond-driven Apocalypse Chicago, and they are followed by the playfully flirtatious Les Cirque Des Enfants, the steadfast Frances, the lonesome, accordion-imbibed I Guess The Engagement Is Off, and then we get the yearnful Me, Myself & I, the jaunty Micajah, and then the family storytelling found within Red and Blue.

Along next is the low slung blues rock vibe of The Radical and the rhythmically alt-rock feel of What Price Would You Pay and they are in turn backed by the soaring synth rock of It Lives In The Attic, the sprawling Do You Want To Go To Heaven, the impassioned, chant like Avinu Malkenu, the recording rounding out on the harmonic prog feel of The 3 Prayers Psalm 19:14, the fun alt-pop, Gospel rock feel of What Is God/Seed Of Abraham, coming to a close on the accordion-drum-Hammond powered, free flowing pop-rock of Western Kentucky Come On Down.

Line-up:
Neal Rosner: keyboards, bass and keyboard, percussion, vocals
Steve Baker: engineer, co-producer, percussion
Barb Rosner: backup vocals, spoken word
Alonzo Pennington: guitar
Boscoe France: guitar
James Dillingham: guitar

Official Spotify Purchase Link