Athens, Georgia’s own Kimberly Morgan York is at it again this year with her new EP Release, Devil Songs and Other Such Nonsense. The Kentucky born artist follows up her 2006 and 2021 recordings (both released in 2022) with a whimsical project birthed by accident in a bandmate’s basement. As the story goes, bassist Bryan Howard was playing the lines of one of Kimberly’s songs. But all of the band heard the riff of of the classic Terri Gibbs hit, “Somebody’s Knockin.'” Next thing you know, the entire band is rocking out to “Somebody’s Knockin.'” That sprouted into the idea of a Devil Songs collection.
Last month, she dropped the rollicking “The Devil Works All Year Long.” Now, we’ve got a decidedly mellower number with “The Devil’s in Durango.” Written while traveling the desolate roads of Colorado, Kimberly explores the truth about the obsession of the musician. The loneliness is palpable in the line I should be goin home to Georgia but the devil’s in Durango tonight. The road can be a lonely place; especially when you’ve got an angel waiting for you back home.
It would be fun to hear her kick it up a notch (think Amanda Shires or Morgan Wade) and rock out more. But with this EP, we wouldn’t change a thing.
Devil Songs and Other Such Nonsense releases Friday, the 13th of October. How fitting for a devil!
