MJ Lenderman - Boat Songs

Jake Lenderman lives in Asheville, North Carolina. He plays guitar in the indie band Wednesday, sometimes fishes on the Pigeon River, and creates his own music as MJ Lenderman. This 2022 release marks a turning point: a scrappy, lo-fi album full of wit, melancholy, and distortion-drenched Americana, recorded in a proper studio for the first time with longtime collaborators Alex Farrar and Colin Miller at Drop of Sun.

Described by Lenderman as his most “polished” effort to date, the album tackles the pursuit of happiness through deadpan observations and warped country songwriting—whether that means buying a boat, watching seeds fall from a bird feeder, or falling apart over a basketball game. It builds on the critical success of earlier records like Ghost of Your Guitar Solo and Knockin’, with tracks like “You Have Bought Yourself A Boat,” “TLC Cage Match,” and “Dan Marino” blending distorted guitars with dry humor and emotional clarity.

There’s a palpable freedom in these songs—My Bloody Valentine squall meets Gram Parsons sweetness; steel guitars bend and honk like they’re in conversation with Neil Young’s Crazy Horse; and at the core is a lyrical voice as unassuming as it is unforgettable. Packed with unexpected turns and poetic simplicity, these are songs that feel lived-in, full of flawed joy and cracked sincerity.

Label: Dear Life Records
Format: LP