Andy Shauf is a gifted storyteller. Earlier this year the Saskatchewan-based singer-songwriter put out one of 2015's most breathtaking albums, called The Bearer Of Bad News — an appropriately titled collection of mostly grim tales about small town drug addicts, murderous lovers and other weary underachievers.
Shauf has been touring in support of the album for much of the year and got the attention of Anti- Records. The label has just added Shauf to its lineup (with a separate deal on Arts & Crafts in Canada) and is announcing the move with a new song by the singer called "Jenny Come Home."
"Jenny Come Home" is bouncier than much of Shauf's music, but no less heartbreaking. Sung from the perspective of a man who's cheating on his wife or girlfriend, we learn that Jenny's building has burned to ground. She then returns home only to find her man in bed with another woman. "You came upstairs and we were scrambling," sings Shauf. "So she tried to make for the door. I swear you packed all your things and were gone before she. Jenny come home to me."
Shauf joins a roster of artists at Anti- that includes Wilco for the band's recently released Star Wars album, Deafheaven, and one of Shauf's biggest influences, Elliott Smith (for the posthumously released From A Basement On The Hill). Shauf is at work on a new record for Anti due out sometime next year.
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