Written by: Alex Green

In the past few years Shawn Brown has established himself as one of the great purveyors of acoustic indie-soul. The Oregon-based singer-songwriter’s output has stayed comfortably in that lane and to great effect. Brown’s compositions are reliably groove-laden and filled with catchy choruses, thoughtful lyrics and hooks galore.

And that hasn’t changed.

But on his new single, “Road Of Bones” Brown summons the rootsy swagger of Del Amitri’s Waking Hours or John Cougar Mellencamp’s Lonesome Jubilee and blasts his way into the summer with a stone-cold pop banger.

Backed by his musical pals—bassist Rafa Cirne Lima, guitarist Grecco Buratto (Shakira) and drummer Brendan Buckley (Morrissey)—Brown sits deep in the pocket and rolls through the composition with ferocious joy.

Brown has clearly found the musical open road and he swings loose and free, his voice as dexterous and assured as ever.

“Road Of Bones” displays Brown’s pop chops and it’s quite simply, the most radio-ready song of his career. A breezy bridge that’s buoyed by an even breezier chorus, “Road Of Bones” is one of the most infectious songs of 2023.