Ronnie Fauss, ‘New Madrid’ [Exclusive Premiere]

Texas-based troubadour Ronnie Fauss is premiering his cover of Uncle Tupelo’s song “New Madrid” exclusively for readers of The Boot. Press play below to listen.

Fauss brings a heavier, slightly fuzzy vibe to Uncle Tupelo's classic tune, turning the originally laid-back and folksy “New Madrid” into what he describes as a “super-charged rock song.”

"Uncle Tupelo's four albums were seminal in my development as a songwriter and artist. "New Madrid" was always one of my favorites of theirs, and it was an honor to try my hand at it,” Fauss tells The Boot. “When I cover a song, I don't try to make it better, I just try to make it different. In this case, converting it from a laid-back folk number ... just felt very natural. It kind of sounds similar to most of their other songs!”

After closing his own shows with his cover of “New Madrid” for the past couple of years, Fauss decided to include the track on his forthcoming album Last of the True. Alongside 10 original tracks and "New Madrid," Fauss’ newest offering also includes uniquely inspired covers of Okkervil River’s “The Velocity of Saul at the Time of His Conversion” and Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright.” One of Fauss' new songs, "Saginaw Paper Mill," is a collaboration with singer-songwriter Ben Kweller.

Last of the True is set for release on Oct. 27.

Listen to Ronnie Fauss, "New Madrid":

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