Dylan Odom — the Savannah, GA-based songsmith behind Harlan, Saved — didn’t act alone when he set out to release the project’s first EP, 1958. As good fortune would have it, he was able to enlist the help of his all-time favorite band.

That band? Philadelphia-based folk trio Good Old War, whose credits include performances at SXSW, and recognition from esteemed outlets including Billboard and CMT. Odom and Good Old War guitarist Danny Black have become close friends over the years, and Black (alongside drummer Tim Arnold) contributed to the creative process, with Black listed as featured on the EP’s title track, “1958.”

That track closes out this five-song supersonic folk offering, and invites us to experience what it’s like to be on the losing end of goodbye. Prior to that, 1958 is loaded with wistful musings about relationships, heartbreak, and life on the run.

Opening track “Suitcases” serves as a lively and intricate introduction to the record, as Odom sings of a fleeting co-dependency that, ultimately, serves neither party involved. Odom has further opportunity to display his musicality with the frantic fingerpicking that drives the action forward on lead single, “Lawless,” and showcases his diverse sonic palette by offering us “Cheap,” a dark and bluesy tune filtered through a shoegaze lens.

And, if you’re looking for Americana storytelling, “John Wayne” serves as 1958‘s shining example. Odom’s smoky vocal accompanies a tale of heartbreak and infidelity, and the generational ripple effects that are often caused by the unhealed actions of a few.

Track listing
Suitcases
Lawless
Cheap
John Wayne
1958