Puss N Boots the trio which consists of Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson, and Catherine Popper announced they will release their second full-length album, Sister on February 14, 2020. The album is described as a fetching collection of originals written by the band members collectively and individually, mixed with loving covers of songs by Tom Petty (“Angel Dream”), Dolly Parton (“The Grass Is Blue”), Paul Westerberg (“It’s a Wonderful Lie”), and Concrete Blonde (“Joey”). Jones, Dobson, and Popper each take turns delivering lead vocals and also pick up multiple instruments throughout the album trading off on guitar, bass, and drums.
The new song, “It’s Not Easy” is beautiful with Norah Jones predominantly leading vocals in this track. The group combined display their skills with guitar and together they take you on a musical journey as the tempo changes in various places. Lyrics like, “Whether I build a wall or see it through. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know.” The guitar comes in after this vocal break providing a backdrop against the track. Lyrics continue, “I will run from you and you can run from me. Split the circle into two until we’re free. It’s not what you want. You know it’s what I need. It’s not easy to be. It’s not easy to be.”
“This band has always been a great adventure,” says Jones. “Sasha and Cat’s fearlessness eggs me on to try new things, be it playing guitar, drums, writing a new way or wearing an elf costume on stage. We feed off of each other’s eagerness to jump in, sink or swim. And singing together feels like the most natural thing in the world. It’s a real privilege to have found this space together, try different things and to watch this band grow into what is at this moment. It is ever evolving and so fun.”
The band is scheduled to play two NYC album release shows, with the first show in Brooklyn on February 14 at Rough Trade. The next night, on Februry 15, Puss N Boots will play at the Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan. They will also appear at the 2020 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on April 25. Additional tour dates will be announced soon.
“For me this band has always been an incredible and uniquely safe outlet for trying new things,” Dobson shared. “For example, I’d been writing all year on bass but was too shy to tell anyone, but when Norah asked me if I had anything new, before I knew it we were covering those tunes and I was playin’ bass in the band!”
“We were rehearsing for something and we took a break,” recalls Popper. “I sat at the drums and started messing around, Norah came back and picked up a guitar and riffed, and Sasha picked up the bass, and in an hour we had ‘It’s Not Easy.’ My bandmates just love to make music and it’s been a great learning experience for me about setting my ego aside and taking a chance.”
Sister Tracklist
1. Jamola (Sasha Dobson, Norah Jones, Catherine Popper)
2. It’s Not Easy (Sasha Dobson, Norah Jones, Catherine Popper)
3. Nothing You Can Do (Sasha Dobson)
4. Lucky (Catherine Popper)
5. You And Me (Sasha Dobson)
6. You Don’t Know (Norah Jones)
7. The Great Romancer (Sasha Dobson, Don Was)
8. It’s A Wonderful Lie (Paul Westerberg)
9. Sister (Sasha Dobson, Norah Jones, Catherine Popper)
10. The Razor Song (Catherine Popper)
11. Angel Dream (Tom Petty)
12. Same Old Bullshit (Helen Rogers)
13. Joey (Johnette Napolitano) **CD & digital album only**
14. The Grass Is Blue (Dolly Parton) **CD & digital album only**
Leave a Comment