These Are The New Good Times

A quiet hoedown of banjos, steel-string guitars, and vocal harmonies, "These Are The New Good Times" is a poignant and powerful example of barebones country folk. Jon DeRosa is the man behind Pale Horse and Rider, though he may be better known for his work with drone-pop hybrid Aarktica. Still, over the years DeRosa has emerged as a talented solo artist, whose songwriting skills are showcased here. As Pale Horse and Rider, DeRosa opts for raw acoustic finger-picking and lyrics which tell stories, as opposed to Aarktica’s lush and intricate songscapes. Incredibly private about his work, DeRosa was adamant that only his closest and most respected friends perform on the album to maintain a sense of “family.” The result was a backing band including Alan Sparhawk (Low), Charles Newman (Flare), Nathan Amundson (Rivulets), and Marc Gartman.