The White Buffalo – ‘Love & The Death of Damnation’ (album stream) (premiere)

Jake Smith, known by his adoring cult following as the White Buffalo, is set to release his fifth full-length album, and third for Unison Music, Love & The Death of Damnation, but why wait until tomorrow when you can hear the man’s new record right here, right now?

A classic American singer-songwriter in the tradition of Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt, and Steve Earle, Smith combines storytelling, sensitivity, gritty Americana, and contemplative folk music with the skill and grace of his idols, and as you’ll hear, the new record is as strong, not to mention varied a collection of songs as he’s ever put out. The evolution of the album was chronicled in the marvellous web series Capturing the White Buffalo, sponsored by Ernie Ball. Watch the series here.

“This album is the most musically and lyrically diverse I’ve ever done,” Smith tells PopMatters. “Love, death, light, dark. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry. It’s gonna be emotional.”

Love & The Death of Damnation will be released 21 August. Pre-order it via PledgeMusic or iTunes. Also be sure to catch him on tour in the US and Canada this late summer/fall:

Aug 30 Riot Fest And Rodeo Denver, CO

Sep 01 State Room Salt Lake City, UT

Sep 02 Neurolux Boise, ID

Sep 04 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR

Sep 05 Bumbershoot Festival Seattle, WA

Sep 07 Top Hat Missoula, MT

Sep 09 The Waiting Room Omaha, NE

Sep 10 Icon Lounge Sioux Falls, SD

Sep 12 High Noon Saloon Madison, WI

Sep 13 Riot Fest And Carnival Chicago, IL

Sep 18 Sainte Rocke Hermosa Beach, CA

Sep 20 KAABOO Del Mar, CA

Oct 15 Gramercy Theatre New York, NY

Oct 16 Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA

Oct 17 Pedal Haus Brewery Tempe, AZ

Oct 19 TLA Philadelphia, PA

Oct 20 Soundstage Baltimore, MD

Oct 22 Vinyl Atlanta, GA

Oct 23 Parish @ House of Blues New Orleans, LA

Oct 25 Stubb’s Jr. Austin, TX

Oct 27 House of Blues – Cambridge Room Dallas, TX

Nov 05 The Opera House Toronto, ON

Nov 06 Rumrunners London, ON

Nov 07 The Dominion House Tavern Windsor, ON

Nov 10 Garrick Entertainment Center Winnipeg, MB

Nov 12 Broadway Theatre Saskatoon, SK

Nov 13 Republik Calgary, AB

Nov 14 Union Hall Edmonton, AB

Dec 03 The Fillmore San Francisco, CA

Dec 04 House of Blues Anaheim, CA

Dec 10 House of Blues San Diego, CA