Donal Hinely – Everything Must Go (2024)

On his new album Everything Must Go, Texas folk singer and songwriter Donal Hinely takes account of his long journey in music, delivering a collection of honest and soulful reflections that both captivate and entertain. Now approaching his 4th decade as a working musician and songwriter, the three-time Kerrville New Folk Finalist looks back on his early escapades on “Bondi Blues” and “Ruby Slippers”, considers the weight of family history on “Random Order” and “Wings of Seraphim”, examines the role of fate in the music business on “On a Roll” and “When We Meet Again”, and whimsically ponders the most final of destinations on “Buzzards” and “Oblivion.” Though delving into some weighty and even tragic subjects such as the death of his older brother Terry in 1997, Hinely’s insightful lyrics reflect a thinker who is at peace with the world. Teamed with strong, catchy melodies and the stellar production of Nashville stalwart David Henry (Cowboy Junkies, Old Crow Medicine Show, Josh Rouse) these stories can seem both hopeful and inspirational. No stranger to music with a message, Hinely bookends this collection of songs with the title track which mocks the role of crass consumerism in American culture and the final track, “Miss America”, an historical reminder of what is at stake in November 2024.
Drawing inspiration from songwriting heroes John Prine, Steve Earle, Guy Clarke and others, Hinely began his Nashville tenure with the critically acclaimed We Built a Fire in 2002 and the folk chart topping Giants in 2005. Over the years he has had the privilege to work with many notable talents in the Americana scene including Will Kimbrough, Kim Richey, Tommy Womack, Mindy Smith, David Mead, Fats Kaplin, Viktor Krauss and David Henry.