Leon III "Candy Cigarettes" Record Release

Andy Stepanian and Mason Brent’s “duo”, Leon III (say it “Leon the Third), returns with their fourth album ‘Candy Cigarettes’. Recorded with the primary Leon III touring ensemble over a period of two years with producer Mark Nevers (Silver Jews, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy), the band weaves together a rich tapestry of psychedelic exploration, dark pedal steel-laced country and big, anthemic rock.

Someone once dubbed Leon III a “southern Pink Floyd”. That’s fair enough - mostly due to the fact that their albums are built for repeated, deep listens and sequenced to reveal themselves over time. But Brent’s lead guitar is more Jimmy Page than Gilmour, prone to unruly dissonance, feedback and, sometimes, unhinged shredding. And Stepanian’s songwriting is more personal, a jigsaw puzzle filled with rich turns of phrase touching on envy, faith, longing, rising up and crashing down.

Leon III’s sound has evolved and sharpened since their 2018 eponymous debut. The first three releases included a rotating cast of players including some megas from the indie world like William Tyler and Matt Pence (Centro-matic, Jason Isbell). But, Leon III has steadily solidified their recording and live show line up over the years and it shows. This band knows each other well and the result is a spectrum of sound ranging from nuanced and quiet to mind mending. Although there’s psychedelia here, there’s no trace of the aimless wandering or mumbo jumbo sometimes associated with that genre. And, despite some country leanings here and there, the record eschews the cliches and well-worn paths of some of today’s Americana.