Tyler Childers - Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? (September 30, 2022)

Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven

edit: track list on Apple Music makes it look like a triple album with 3 versions (“Hallelujah”, “Jubilee”, and “Joyful Noise”) of each (8) song.

 

Well, ok then. I'm intrigued! I don't go back to the last one a whole lot, but Purgatory is still one of the 10 or so best country albums of the past decade.

Here's the tracklist.

Part 1 – Hallelujah

1. Old Country Church
2. Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?
3. Two Coats
4. Purgatory
5. Way Of The Triune God
6. Angel Band
7. Jubilee
8. The Heart You Been Tendin’

Part 2 – Jubilee

1. Old Country Church
2. Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?
3. Two Coats
4. Purgatory
5. Way Of The Triune God
6. Angel Band
7. Jubilee
8. The Heart You Been Tendin’

Part 3 – Joyful Noise

1. Old Country Church
2. Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?
3. Two Coats
4. Purgatory
5. Way Of The Triune God
6. Angel Band
7. Jubilee
8. The Heart You Been Tendin’

 

he’s one of the best but that’s worrying

 

Let’s gooo

 

New song is great. Love how the band sounds.

 

new song is great and interesting concept with the three versions! scratched my head over that at first but this explanation is really interesting: (Tyler Childers announces new 3-part album 'Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?,' shares 2 tracks)

It's broken up into three parts -- Hallelujah, Jubilee and Joyful Noise -- and each part presents the same eight songs in a different fashion. The Hallelujah version features Tyler and his core band playing live in a single room; the Jubilee version brings in strings, horns, backing vocals, dulcimer, mbira, sitar, and more; and details about the Joyful Noise version won't be revealed until release day. Tyler says:

"I grew up Baptist and I was scared to death to go to hell. And a lot of that stuck with me. Filtering through that and trying to find the truth, and the beauty, and the things you should think about and expelling all that nonsense has been something I’ve spent a lot of time on. This is a collection that came together through those reflections. In a lot of ways, this is processing life experiences in the different philosophies and religions that have formed me, trying to make a comprehensive sonic example of that.

Working with the same song three different ways is a nod to my raising, growing up in a church that believes in the Holy Trinity: The Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and what that means. The Father being the root, the place from which everything comes from, and The Son coming to free up some of those things, allowing it to be more open and welcoming. And then you have the Holy Ghost once The Son is gone — that feeling that’s supposed to keep us sustained until we are reunited, in whatever way that looks.

Message wise, I hope that people take that it doesn't matter race, creed, religion and all of that like — the most important part is to protect your heart, cultivate that and make that something useful for the world."

 

So excited to hear new stuff from him

 

At first listen, these songs are not nearly different enough to justify putting them both on the same record.

 

Hmm yeah, I like the song, but the Jubilee version is the one for me. Doesn't hurt to have multiple versions for people to choose from I guess. Seems weird that Purgatory is on here again though, especially since it's only 8 songs.

I wonder if Joyful Noise is being played like a church setup would be. Organ, piano, etc. with him and a gospel choir

 

That BV write up makes me feel a little better about the record. Wasn’t really expecting all the religious stuff this go round..lol

 

Also this is out in 3 weeks, we love a short rollout.

 

I read another write up that says the Joyful Noise version is going to bring in electronic elements and features a DJ and sound clips from Andy Griffith among other things.

I’m pretty excited to see how this project turns out.

 

That sounds like the Hank III album that was made out of cattle auctioneers. Suffice to say, I don't have high hopes for that album but think the other 2 should be good.

 

Yeah, stuff like this is usually fun to hear once, but I’d imagine I’ll just pick my favorite version and listen to that repeatedly. Makes the vinyl kind of hard to justify.

 

It is wild how many good unreleased songs he has and still the only one (that I know at least) on this is the title track!

edit: Just kidding, I've also definitely heard "Triune God" and "Old Country Church" but still

 

I’m pretty firmly not into this. Like at all, which is a pretty big bummer.

 

I like it. Just sonically/production wise, it feels like it has a lot more punch to me than the last record did. Closing track especially is dynamite, with a fucking killer guitar solo. Only listened to the Hallelujah version so far, though.

 

I love the sound of the music itself but I’m not a fan of the lyrics at all. The closer is the one song I really like and the solo does fuckin rip.

Vastly prefer the original version of Purgatory and the version of Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven he had been playing live.

 

Yeah, I'd really prefer him in less gospel-y mode. The writing on Purgatory was so rich and unique, and I feel like he's kind of lost that a bit. But I do love how this record sounds. Jubilee version is even better, IMO.

 

This did not need to be two albums, let alone three.

 

The more I think about it the more it annoys me that it’s only 8 songs to begin with and then 2 are instrumental and one is recycled.

Did get a good laugh at someone on his FB saying Joyful Noise must have been somebody else’s idea that forced him into including it.

 

Lmk when you make a list of the definitive versions

 

Anyone know the presale code for his tour?