Apparently, even natural disasters can have an upside. In 2020, Deslondes bassist Dan Cutler took advantage of some alone time during a hurricane to pen “Lies I’ve Told.” It’s the latest single from Roll It Out (New West), the New Orleans quintet’s fourth album, available September 6.
With the salt-of-the-earth strains of rock, country, folk and blues as their persistent fallback, the Deslondes continue to stay true to the easygoing eclecticism that defines the music of their adopted hometown. For Roll It Out, they headed back into the studio with their go-to producer, Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Margo Price), to record an album that showcases more than ever the relaxed virtuosity that’s become the band’s calling card.
And like most of what the Deslondes do, “Lies I’ve Told” has a low-key charm that resonates in its own sweet time. For more on the track,” here’s Cutler:
“A few years back, Zeta came through New Orleans. As with all hurricanes, there was the feeling of doom and reckoning that accompanied its arrival. Zeta was a little different, though, in that it passed directly over the city. The eye settled over my neighborhood right at dusk, and the clouds parted for about a half an hour to reveal a beautiful sunset.
“The power was out, so I walked around for a bit. The streets were empty; there was debris everywhere. It was beautiful and still—but also eerie and apocalyptic. I went home afterward and wrote this Omega Man-themed love song.”
We’re proud to premiers the Deslondes’ “Lies I’ve Told.”
—Hobart Rowland
