Graciehorse weaves stories into her songs. On L.A. Shit, her new record and first with Wharf Cat, she takes us into the past half a decade of her life. We see her as a traveling nurse, living in big blue expanse of Wyoming, dancing with a man in a crisp white Stetson, eating chicken wings in a hazmat suit, commenting on how strange a place like Los Angeles can be, how loaded it is with wannabe cowboys and fast food restaurants. It's a record of immaculate country music, the kind of stuff you'd put on blast in your truck as you drive down empty stretches of highway. It's also a vulnerable record, full of lyrics about the intensity of being alive, all told with a sense of humor and self-awareness. While some of the songs on L.A. Shit are over a decade old, Gracie started writing the record in earnest during the pandemic. She's a nurse, injured her neck in the line of duty, and suddenly found herself out of work. She had a creative explosion, putting memories into words and melodies in her home studio that she shared with her husband. Particles of songs from years past became beautifully realized. Everything was clicking in the way that it should. She found herself able to express the sometimes inexpressible. She did what all good country music should do: she created a patchwork of experiences in a way that is both deeply earnest and absolutely charming. All of this came not long after a period of time where Gracie felt a loss of creative control over her work. L.A. Shit is a statement about experiencing artistic ownership again. "Hollow Head," is the oldest song on the record. "I started writing it fifteen years ago," she says, "But I never got the chance to really sit down and work on it as much as I wanted." It's about the predator archetype, she shares. About being taken advantage of and trying to rise above it. "Cuz the wind will always find the dust to spin a devil," she sings over flutters of pedal steel, "Always find a weed to push around." Her voice is resonant, clear, emotive. The stuff of Lucinda Williams and old country standards. "What I'm Missing," is expansive, a world inside of a song. It's cosmic country: there are shitty motels and perfect vocal harmonies. True crime sleuths, hours spent rotting on the Internet, and poignant allusions to working in healthcare during the pandemic. It's a stunning song: all keys, more pedal steel. "If You're Gonna Walk That Straight Line Son, It's Only Gonna Hurt," burns like a fire in the desert. It gives off the vibe of a Neil Young song. There's huge cascades of guitars, Gracie's vocals are confident and searching. "This 8 ball that you're shaking has no answer," she sings, wryly. In addition to being Gracie's own major artistic statement, L.A. Shit is a community effort. To make it, she enlisted countless friends in the Los Angeles Area, many of whom are touring and session musicians who were stuck at home during the pandemic. "I'm grateful," she says of the experience, "I'm proud that I get to show off my friends on this record." Indeed, L.A. Shit is that kind of big family affair. It's as country as country can be. Funny, heartbreaking, brutal.
Release date:
May 19, 2023
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Denon DP-400
Featuring a high-precision, belt-driven mechanism and an adjustable tonearm that ensures optimal tracking and minimal resonance
-
Nagaoka MP-110H Cartridge
Features a high-quality elliptical stylus that provides excellent tracking and minimizes distortion, delivering a detailed sound reproduction with an output voltage of 5.0 mV
-
Vinyl Care - Top Picks
A selection of accesories to keep your turntable equipment & vinyl records in the best shape
-
Edifier R1280DB Powered Speakers
Combining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound.
-
Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Anthony Green So Long, Avalon
Born Losers Records
July 11, 2025 -
Angel Of Damnation Ethereal Blasphemy
Dying Victim Productions
July 25, 2025 -
John McLaughlin Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2022 [2xLP]
Earmusic
August 8, 2025 -
Real Estate THe Wee Small Hours: B-Sides And Other Detritus 2011-2025
Domino Record Co
September 19, 2025 -
Bailey Zimmerman Different Night Same Rodeo (Amazon Exclusive) [2xLP]
Warner Nashville, Atlantic Records
August 8, 2025 -
Mansur Brown Rihla
Amai Records
September 5, 2025 -
Botch 61524 [2xLP]
Sargent House
June 27, 2025 -
Indigo De Souza Precipice
Loma Vista Recordings
July 25, 2025 -
Minus the Bear Menos El Oso (20th Anniversary; Pink) [2xLP]
Suicide Squeeze
August 22, 2025 -
Cecilie Strange Beech
April Records
July 11, 2025 -
Teethe Magic of the Sale
Winspear
August 8, 2025 -
Bostich + Fussible Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich + Fussible Greatest Hits
Nacional Records
July 25, 2025 -
Sydney Minsky Sargeant Lunga [2xLP]
Domino Record Co
September 12, 2025 -
Kingfishr Halcyon
Atlantic
August 22, 2025