Blues Traveler keyboardist Ben Wilson has announced he is releasing his first full-length studio album in more than a decade with his eclectic, genre-blending, roots-driven pop project Wilson Arms. Heroes and Hangmen, which features 10 new original songs penned by Wilson, will be available on all DSPs starting Friday, November 1.
Wilson Arms, which Wilson formed with long-time friend and renowned drummer Rob Avsharian (Andy Timmons Band, Bobgoblin, The Adventures of Jet, The Julien Kasper Band, Disaster Relief), describes the record as “a wide-ranging, love letter to some of our favorite musical influences with groove-based, blues-inspired, pop with a dose of 70s and 80s synths and production.”
A departure from anything that either of the artists has created in their previous works – even their inaugural album Throwing Wrenches (2013) – Heroes and Hangmen was conceptualized during the Pandemic as a soul-searching journey to define themselves and evolved into an enigmatic opus that opened not only their hearts and minds, but hopefully others.
“I am so proud of the continued evolution of Ben’s songwriting, singing, and experimentation with new sounds and production colors on this album and that this has continued the journey from the first record,” said Avsharian.
Wilson seconds Avsharian’s sense of gratification when it comes to Heroes and Hangmen. “I am most excited about two things: the growth of my partnership with Rob in terms of arranging the tunes and arriving at, what feels to me, like very cohesive and tight tunes. And adding Lang Freeman to mix the record really sealed the deal for what felt like a very like-minded approach and end result,” Wilson said.
The result is a dynamic and diversified album that is already receiving acclaim thanks to its debut “Bleeding Heart,” which the duo released in early October. In fact, Music for All hailed it as “a delightful, upbeat blues-rock tune with progressive elements.”
Heroes and Hangmen features Wilson on vocals, keyboards, programmed bass, and guitar with Avsharian on drums and guitar. The record was recorded remotely in each of their homes and produced by Wilson.
The official tracklisting for Heroes and Hangmen is as follows:
Hidden Treasure
Mission To Mars
Lemmings
Laughing At The Dark
Heroes And Hangmen
In A Box
Bleeding Heart
Houdini
Next To Me
Let’s Talk
For more information about Wilson Arms, visit www.facebook.com/BenWilsonArms or www.instagram.com/elbenwilson/?hl=en
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