New Ways to Lose (Losing Side Records, 2026)

American Aquarium could be one of the biggest acts in music today if they wanted to. But on this, their 11th studio album, BJ Barham and the boys seem ever more determined to keep doing things the hard way so as to remain eternal underdogs. In case you can't tell from the album title and the name of the record label they founded, winning is not a priority for this band, especially if they have to censor themselves or back down in any way.

For one thing, in this ultra discordant time in our nation's history, most artists choose to keep their political opinions to themselves lest they alienate – no, not alienate, antagonize – half of their potential audience. But BJ never lets you wonder where he stands, and like Bruce Springsteen, who he and the band sometimes evoke, he does it powerfully and poetically. He does so on the opening track, "Dollar General" ("The worst trick ever played was taking our voice / and giving us two sides and the illusion of choice. It ain't left vs. right, it's bottom vs. top. Until we figure it out this ain't gonna stop").

"History Repeats Itself" is arguably even more ambitious. It also laments the loss of small towns and the middle class, but it takes on immigration too. ("Turn on the news and it beaks my heart / Another family being torn apart. How many times does it have to / happen to them before it happens to you?")

The more personal songs work well too, whether dealing with the loss of a beloved dog "Favorite Hello" ('Cause loving you your whole life means missing you the rest of mine") or a young girl missing a grandmother she never knew but is the spitting image of ("Just Like You") where "her little fingers trace the divots of her last name carved in stone."

Don't get the impression that it's all grief and loss and anger about our current national situation. "4X60" is nostalgic ode to simpler times, and "Twin Flame" is a beautiful song about everlasting love. Seriously, like through lifetimes. ("I found you this go round; I'll find you in the next one too / Every version, variation, every sequel, every single time it's you.") This type of sentiment might ring false, even corny, from most vocalists, but BJ sings it so assuredly that the most cynical listener might believe in romance and reincarnation. At least for three minutes and one second anyway.

The band finally seems to have decided on Shooter Jennings as their producer. This is his third team-up with them, and he certainly seems to bring out the best in the band, or maybe he's just savvy enough to sit back and let them do what they do best, with the bare minimum of interference. Either way, they work well together.

In fact, just about everything on this ambitious album works. No doubt the guys in American Aquarium will be disappointed when they realize it, but this record is a definite winner.