Billy Strings Drives Bluegrass Forward on "Highway Prayers"

Graphic by Sofia Giarrusso

by Sam Shipman

What happens when a bloated country album actually hits every mark, front to back? Highway Prayers is the latest project by singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and dad (as of a couple of days ago), Billy Strings. The new record offers a daunting 75-minute run time featuring bluegrass-inspired sounds that are commonly found throughout Billy’s discography as he adds a range of new genre-bending explorations. 

Billy has proven himself to be one of the modern greats of bluegrass and country music by way of a steady list of strong albums (winning a Grammy for Home in 2021) and even more impressive mind-numbing live performances. Additionally, Billy has collaborated with Luke Colmbs, Post Malone, and Willie Nelson, just to name a few from the laundry list. 

Highway Prayers, similar to other projects of Billy’s, does not follow a linear idea or even order of songs. This project is his latest escapade to release a new batch of tunes that will be added to his expansive live catalog. Some songs from Highway Prayers have already found their way onto Billy’s recent sets such as “Be Your Man” or “Seven Weeks In Country.” 

The lack of structure in Highway Prayers does not harm the record’s vision, if anything, it makes the project a little exhausting to listen to–even as a pretty big fan of Billy’s work. Simply, getting into the track 15-20 range feels like a drag even if each song is great. Thankfully though, Highway Prayers’ biggest strength is that it’s not afraid to jump around different sounds from song to song.

Introducing new ideas on this album, “Catch and Release” is a short two-minute sit-by-the-campfire-esque song where Billy displays elaborate lyrical depth over a striped back guitar rift:

Always watch your six and nine/

Don't roll through the stop sign.

You don't always need to make the verses rhyme/

Don't be mixing liquor with your wine.

If you feel so inclined keep me in mind/

And by the way, only break one law at a time.  

Another song that displays a new angle to Billy’s craft is “MORBUD4ME.” It is mostly an acapella track that is simply backed by rhythmic sound effects reminiscent of a lighter igniting and a bong bubbling. Billy layers his voice over a catchy chorus that emulates a sound somewhere between a classic call-and-response work song and a Fleet Foxes interlude. On top of it being a pretty song, it’s also just humorous to experience such a southern-looking man sing about weed.

Highway Prayers is missing a song or two that is on the longer side of runtime. Projects like Renewal from 2021 or 2019’s Home feature a handful of songs that exceed seven minutes. The importance of these longer tracks lies in their ability to emulate a very monstrous and elaborate live performance that turns each song into a progressive psychedelic beast. Only 2 songs on Highway Prayers are over five minutes with these exceptions being just shy of six minutes. 

It should be known that song length doesn’t matter when it comes to live performances, 5-minute songs such as “Highway Hypnosis” which started as normal five minute songs in the studio, are now concert highlights as they become much more fleshed out in the live setting. On Highway Prayers it’s just a matter of time to see which shorter song on the record evolves into a much more intricate live experience.

While Billy’s collab album Me / And / Dad also doesn’t feature a super long song, Highway Prayers is the first project by Billy alone that is structured with songs that have billboard-chart-reaching potential if they reach the right people The structure shifts from the last three albums could be Billy’s attempt to capture more mainstream attention. Or each song being as digestible as a pop song could be a result of the record’s co-producer with Billy, Jon Brion. 

Brion’s production highlights are countless: Mac Miller’s Circles, two Fiona Apple production credits with When The Pawn… and Extraordinary Machine, Late Registration by Kanye West, Teenage Dream by Katy Perry, and a even slew of blockbuster movie soundtracks. 

The guy is a legend, but what does he do for a Billy Strings project?

What Brion brings to Billy’s project are two main components. Firstly, he is making Billy’s music more digestible for wider audiences while keeping all the sharp edges and grit that make the bluegrass artist special. Highway Prayers’ “Seven Weeks In Country” and “Gone Long Time” could truly be played to anyone to gain a general understanding of Billy’s talents. 

Secondly, Brion constructed Billy’s incredibly complicated instrumentals and lyrical structure to fit together perfectly in bite-sized, three minute banger after banger body of work. Billy doesn’t just sound great vocally, lyrically, and with his guitar, he sounds more polished than ever. His longtime four-piece band assists in the whole thing sounding more than experienced since they’ve been playing together so long. Brion’s contributions on drums, percussion, and bass place the bow on already tightly produced songs by Billy and his boys. Direct examples of the polished sound this record displays include simple but tender bass fills on “My Alice,” speedy chops, vocal layering on “Leadfoot,” and incredible harmonies on “Glid the Lily.”

Brion doesn’t let his heavy pop background influence Billy’s album recipe as Billy still has a couple of instrumental tracks that serve as masterful displays of guitar talent. Take for example “Seney Stretch,” a pretty guitar ballad that emulates cruising down the backroads of Appalachia. Brion instead offers a new spin on Billy’s well-thought-out strategy that makes an enjoyable addition to Billy’s catalog.  

In a time where country music records have dozens of songs that deter fans from listening once they hit track 30 (Morgan Wallen, great albums–cut 20 songs please), it’s refreshing to see that Billy Strings can craft 20 great songs with help from a producing legend. The best part is, even if I don’t want to listen to all 20 in one session, I can hear any live with a grin on my face.