Cream Premiere: Paul Burch Comes Out Ahead in 'Fool About Me' [Fresh Track]

Back in October, before a performance with Mekons head Jon Langford, uniquely skilled and much-loved Nashville singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Paul Burch let it slip that he had a new album on the way. While that's always good news, there wasn't much more he could share at the time about the follow-up to his phenomenal 2016 LP Meridian Rising, on which he imagined the life of early country superstar Jimmie Rodgers. 

Today, however, is a new day. The word is out that Burch's 11th LP is called Light Sensitive, and that his band of ringers The WPA Ballclub is augmented on the recording by guest appearances from Amy Rigby, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Robyn Hitchcock and North Mississippi Allstars' Luther Dickinson. The album's set for release on April 17 via Plowboy Records. 

Burch, like so many of the best musicians, is a master of economy that you never feel. Everything about his songs and his recordings seems like it grew right where it is. We're very pleased to premiere "Fool About Me," a track from the album that neatly makes the case. In the jaunty tune, the narrator observes, bemusedly, that his significant other isn't all that practical in making decisions about a fair few things in life — including him. 

" 'Fool About Me' is one of my favorite cuts on Light Sensitive,” says Burch in an email. “My co-producer Dennis Crouch plays the low-end bass and Dominic Davis from Jack White's band plays slap bass along with Luther Dickinson on slide guitar. Jen Gunderman plays beautiful barrelhouse piano. I threw on drums after we cut it live with guitar. Take 1. We got done in time for a grilled cheese lunch. Playwright Catie Baumer Schwalb helped me with the food verse. 'Nice' and 'nice' together — that’s my favorite part. 

“And though Yo La Tengo name-checked Prince's Hot Chicken in a song title, perhaps the WPA Ballclub is the first to say 'hot chicken in Nashville' in a lyric. It was inspired when a friend of mine from Chicago gave me an unreleased tape of Big Bill Broonzy playing at a party. 'Fool About Me' has Bill's beat. And I'm sure Bill had hot chicken at that party, too."

Check out the song below, and visit your favorite record store or Burch's website for details on preordering the album and upcoming shows.