Paul Thorn - Too Blessed to Be Stressed (2014)

Too Blessed To Be Stressed stakes out new territory for the popular roots-rock songwriter and performer. In the past, I ve told stories that were mostly inspired by my own life, the former prizefighter and literal son of a preacher man offers. This time, I ve written 10 songs that express more universal truths, and I ve done it with a purpose: to make people feel good. I don t think I could have written anthemic songs like this if I hadn t made my last album, Thorn says of 2012 s What the Hell is Goin On? Like 2010 s autobiographical Pimps & Preachers, it was among its year s most played CDs on Americana radio and contributed to Thorn s rapidly growing fan base. And Thorn followed that airplay success with his current AAA-radio hit version of Doctor My Eyes from April 2014 s Looking Into You: A Tribute To Jackson Browne. It helps that those big vocal hooks on Too Blessed To Be Stressed are being reinforced by the sound of Thorn s flexible and dynamic band, as they have been doing for years in concert. During their two decades in the club, theater and festival trenches, the four-piece and their frontman have garnered a reputation for shows that ricochet from humor to poignancy to knock-out rock n roll. These guys really bring my songs to life, says Thorn. A lot of albums sound like they re made by a singer with bored studio musicians. My albums sound they re played by a real blood-and-guts band because that s what we are. And when we get up on stage, people hear and see that.