John Fullbright releases his second studio album, 'Songs,' via Blue Dirt / Thirty Tigers. The new album showcases the strongest songwriting of the 25 year-old's career and follows the breakout success of his 2012 debut 'From the Ground Up,' which was nominated for the 'Best Americana Album' Grammy and featured in the Wall Street Journal, LA Times, NPR and more. If there's a recurring motif that jumps out upon first listen to 'Song,' it's the act of writing itself. 'When I discovered Townes Van Zandt, that's when I went, 'You know, this is something to be taken pretty damn seriously,'' says Fullbright. 'You can write something that's going to outlast you, and immortality through song is a big draw.' The arrangements on 'Songs' are stripped down to their cores and free of ornamentation. Fullbright's guitar and piano anchor the record, while a minimalist rhythm section weaves in an out throughout the album. That's not to say these are simple songs; Fullbright possesses a keen ear for memorable melody and a unique approach to harmony, moving through chord progressions far outside the expected confines of traditional folk or Americana. The performances are stark and direct, though, a deliberate approach meant to deliver the songs in their purest and most honest form.