Dougie Poole is a musician and songwriter based in Brooklyn, NY. He grew up in Manhattan, the child of two doctors, and considers this privilege alongside low-stakes millennial laments. He didn’t set out make country music, but was drawn to the genre’s surface level simplicity and earnestness. However, it hasn’t been that simple. “The more I work at it, the more it seems like there's a lot of pretty heavy stuff to unpack,” he said. “How does country, this American tradition of reflective and self-aware music, become complicated by our deepening understanding of the parallel American traditions of violence, theft, and exclusion?” So far, he’s two albums in to trying to answer that question.
Wideass Highway, Poole’s debut album, was released in 2017. For listeners of Orville Peck or Sturgill Simpson, the album might feel familiar. The warbling, deep, acid country sounds are full of the same steel sounds and cowboy chords, but Poole approaches it from a quieter, more experimental stance. Less Young but as Dumb is a simple ballad with simple chords, but the interstellar synth sounds and deep, wavering vocals elevate the track to something a bit more encompassing. The album feels like a cathartic walk down a dirt road, stars above you, mind floating in a dream.
Enjoy.
Wideass Highway - Dougie Poole
Pair this album with:
Bahn Mi Tacos. This recipe is inspired by Austin restaurant Peached Tortilla, an asian/southern fusion spot that is known specifically for these tacos. Don’t be afraid of braising the meat, just make sure you allot enough time to let it sit in the oven for a while. It’s easy and worth the wait.
Blood Orange Coconut Margarita. A margarita that’s a little bit creamy, a little bit citrus-y. The flavors go great with the tacos, especially cutting the fattiness of the meat with the acid from the blood orange.
Thank you 💕
Have a great weekend.