Featured Image: (Pacer Graphic / Chloe Kent)
Cory Branan is a musician from Memphis, Tenn. who transcends the boundaries of classic honky-tonk and folk.
Branan has around 30,000 listeners on Spotify, but he deserves more. The storytelling in his self-written songs speaks to music lovers’ souls, as well as giving them a little laugh. Branan captures the human experience through his music and know what his listeners want.
Branan got his start in music at just 13 years old when he started playing guitar. It wasn’t until he was in his 20s that he would start writing songs. He also talks a lot about how his inspiration behind his songs is country-folk legend John Prine. Just like Prine, Cory Branan puts a sort of twisted humor into his music.
His first two albums “The Hell You Say” (2002) and “12 Songs” (2006) were recorded and released with Madjack Records in Memphis, Tenn. In a conversation with David Roberts from Volts, Branan says, “Just almost a one man label, really, and they just sort of came along.”
Branan’s music does not just fall under the country music category. His album “12 Songs” from 2006 has more of an alternative rock feel to it. It is an album that has a lot of songs that are perfect for riding in your car with the windows down during Tennessee summers. The tune “The Prettiest Waitress in Memphis” will have you wanting to go 80 miles per hour down a backroad, but it’s probably best you don’t do that.
Six years after “12 Songs” was released, Branan released the album “Mutt” with Bloodshot Records in 2012. Notable songs from that album include: “Survivor Blues,” “Hold Me Down” and a personal favorite of mine “Darken My Door.” Jump forward to 2014, Branan released the album “The No-Hit Wonder” under Bloodshot Records, as well. This is the album that brought us the upbeat song with some insane electric picking, “Sour Mash.” In 2017, Cory Branan hit us with the album “Adios.” This album is said to be seen as what people would call a death album. In an article by Vice, Branan says that “it is not in a literal sense about dying, a lot of them are just goodbyes in general.” He also says that he isn’t one to make a concept record, but he does want a record to move a certain way.
This brings us to his most recent album, “When I Ghost You,” from 2022 recorded with Blue Élan Records. This record sounds like it needs to be playing at dive bar on a Saturday night in my little hometown. Americana artist Jason Isbell can be heard on this album in some of the songs including “When In Rome, When In Memphis.” The album also has a Garrison Starr duet with Branan and “The Gaslight Anthem” rhythm guitarist and lyricist Brian Fallon on two songs.
All this to say: there is no putting Cory Branan in a box! If you label yourself as “y’allternative,” Branan might have just the song for you. If you need a little bit of punk, country and rock-n-roll, just close your eyes and pick a song of his.
Here is to hoping that the legendary Cory Branan releases more music soon. If you ever get the chance to hear him live, take it! Put your support in a Tennessee-based musician!
You can listen to his music on any major streaming platform, but if you want to keep up with him, I suggest following him on Instagram here. He has a great social media presence!
