Prior to getting the heads up from Adam Dawson (Broken Jukebox Media) on this upcoming album I had heard only one Kenny Shore song, 2021’s “Waiting for the Rain.”  That single has a few things to recommend itself to you including a soft but catchy melody that runs alongside some nice pedal steel and a booming, front loaded bass.  It was, however, one simple lyric line that caught me and has kind of stuck around in my mind; “you can’t always fall back on the past.”  It is a simple but useful reminder about life if you ask me.  

This new album (set for release March 20th) is a really strong set of eleven tracks that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to over the past ten days.  Although the album is definitely in the Americana / folk space there is a nice range of sounds and styles here to enjoy.  

The set opens up with “What’s the Difference?” which struck me immediately as a traveling song.  It kind of has that “going on a roadie” vibe right from the start and the lyrics also fit into that groove although more specifically in a “personal journey” kind of way.  I also really liked the lap steel on this track as it does a great job of evoking the question mark in the title…at least that was my impression.  

Up next is  “I’ll Take Off My Hat” which is a good old foot-tapper with a little shuffling drums accompaniment to follow you along the way.  There is also a memorable bass sequence right around the 1:23 mark…wonderful tone.  You will have to resist the urge to do embarrassing little dances while listening to this groovy tune.  The title track is up next and it opens up on a strong vocal over a basic guitar framework.  That structure gives the song a simple kind of beauty.  The mandolin melody lines also do a nice job of elevating this one.

“Roller Coaster Ride” (a jumpy, bouncy kind of sing-a-long tune) is next and followed by “Monkey Jungle.”  This one comes in with a little rattle and guitar and has a smoky, slightly spooky vibe.  Shore’s vocal delivery also adds to that overall feeling.  It is kind of a trippy song both in sound and story.   Take the time to give this one a few careful listens and really appreciate the interplay of the instruments.  It takes some talented musicians to put this kind of sonic landscape together.  There is even a thumb piano peeking through at several moments which kicks up the spookiness if you ask me.  

Following along next is “Haunted” which, although it is lyrically on the “Misery” side of the equation, does have a musical arrangement that imparts a little bit of hope.  I think it is the strong keys that bring that into view here; they are emphatic and demanding at times…or maybe it sounds more like determination.  I went back and forth on that and do not have it sorted all the way out yet.  “Hard To Be Somebody” has some really nice guitar interplay as the acoustics and electrics play off each other and a soft but effective drum line.  The real star for me on this track though was the bass which punches through at just the right moments.  

Right from the opening notes there is something poetic about the next song “Far Away.”  This one has a fairly spare sound mostly framed around a simple guitar melody.  The lyrics tell a familiar story in an evocative way and have a very down-to-earth quality to them.   Next up is “Nail It To The Wall” (my personal favorite on this album) and the keys really shine here.  They have an otherworldly tone to them that also imparts a feeling of nostalgia mixed with a little mystery.  This tune can take you places in your mind…I got lost a few times along the way.  It is only 3:16 in length but seems longer in a good way.  “If I Ever Needed Someone” (a nice ballad) is followed by the closing track “Sometimes” which comes in on a nice guitar riff that sets a reflective mood.  After listening to it several times I also got a “boot strap yourself up / you can do this” feeling that was driven home by the “yeah’s!” in the extended bridge.  They seems like shouts of encouragement.  I also really like the guitar fills between the verses.  A strong finish to a very good album.  

Overall, Happiness & Misery is a very pleasant listening journey with songs that are well composed, expertly performed and that have lyrics and themes that hit home while also being entertaining.  I will be listening to this one on a regular basis and recommend it to you.  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this:  Kenny Shore (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica), Joe MacPhail (all keys and drums), Joseph Terrell (electric and acoustic guitars, lap steel, all backing vocals), Robert Sledge (bass), Andrew Marlin (mandolin on “Happiness & Misery”), Isaac Derr (thumb piano on “Monkey Jungle”).

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Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.kennyshore.com/

https://kennyshore.bandcamp.com/

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂