Buddha And The Blues, Anders Osborne, LP

Anders Osborne's' "Buddha and the Blues" references the full scope of the creative and personal duality at the heart of everything this maverick does. "I came up with the title early on, so I knew what the vibe of the record should be," he explains. "Buddha and the Blues means the duality of our existence. The lyrics are supposed to be true, conversational, and uplifting with clean, classic, and thumpin' sounds. That's what I set out to accomplish." In order to do so, he traded The Big Easy for Southern California. Joined by "a world-class ensemble" of Waddy Wachtel [guitar], Bob Glaub [bass], Benmont Tench [keys], Windy Wagner-Cromwell [background vocals], and Chad Cromwell [guitar], he siphoned the soul of SoCal into wistful sun-soaked soundscapes. You can practically hear Ojai in the aural fabric of the album. "The Southern California vibe was essential to the record," he continues. "Early on, Chad and I agreed it had to be tracked out there. I've been wanting to do this for a while, and we needed to go out there. You can hear the influence. It's played with a gentle breeze and tight precision. Cutting it in Ojai was crucial to achieving the right atmosphere. I usually write with a location in mind, so it helps me stay focused and guides me to craft a body of tunes rather than individual songs."