It’s been 10 years since very few of us sat through a movie called Cowboys & Aliens in theaters, a sci-fi/Western which dealt with the abduction of townspeople by extraterrestrial invaders—and which, despite its A-list cast, was all but forgotten once it was swept out of theaters. While the title track from Jason Boland’s newly unveiled LP with The Stragglers may share the general premise of this over-the-top sci-fi blockbuster, in a way he kind of flips the idea on its head, providing a more introspective and relatable narrative to the situation. “‘The Light Saw Me’ is a song and album which aims to highlight our lack of ultimate control over our narratives,” he shares. “So much of what happens in our lives seems to choose us in spite of our grand plans.”
The upbeat track provides an apt soundtrack to a revisionist Western, bolstering the traditional country sounds of slide guitar and fiddle with a full rock and roll backing band, as well as production by Shooter Jennings. “Jason is one of my dearest friends and, in my opinion, one of the smartest and coolest dudes I know,” Jennings shares. “This album isn’t just another album from Jason & the Stragglers. It’s a magnum opus of the highest creative order, which in turn I take as a very serious honor to be able to be a part of its inception.”
Check out an in-studio video for the track below, and expect The Light Saw Me out December 3.
