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Releasing Sept. 16^th, 2008, The Suicide Kings’ self-titled debut could easily be the soundtrack for a 21^st century version of the Wild West. The album fuses the grit and tragic sincerity of classic country music and adds equal parts trailer trash and genius. Sonically, The Suicide Kings are like a desert tornado spinning deeply personal songs to serenade the desperate, the lonely and the broken-hearted.

At the core of this band are two prolific musicians with equally unique histories. Recent Nashville transplants, Bruce Connole and Brad Buxer formed The Suicide Kings in 2006 after 20 years of playing together in various projects from Stevie Wonder to Phoenix favorites The Jetzons. The musical bond that comes from playing together for this amount of time is evident in the rich body of work that comprises The Suicide Kings’ debut.

Bruce Connole is the lead vocalist, guitar player and songwriter. It’s an understatement to say he has overcome many obstacles to stand where he is today: including kicking a long and devastating heroin addiction that is no skeleton in his closet. “Quitting dope was about as courageous as running out of a burning house,” Connole says with a grin. With his past firmly behind him, Bruce’s focus clearly resides in making his songs come alive through poignant story telling. It becomes apparent in the first few songs on this album that Bruce’s songwriting is inspirationally haunted by the likes of Hank Williams Sr., Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen.

Brad Buxer, the The Suicide Kings’ keyboard player and background vocalist, has a lengthy list of musical accolades including playing, arranging and/or programming for Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson, among others. But while Buxer’s musical accomplishments are a true testament to a monster talent and an unprecedented work ethic, it is arguable that this record showcases some of his finest and most soulful playing.

This is not a record for the timid or the faint of heart. However, as poetically dark as some of these stories and characters may be, there is still something undeniably relatable about them. The sentiment in every word holds true and captures the essence of a seedy underbelly of life that few of us have ever ventured into. The names would have been changed to protect the innocent, but it’s clear that everyone in these songs is guilty and still running.

For more information, please visit www.thesuicidekings.org