Canada hopes to be three times lucky

The disc contains 14 songs of hard-edged country and rock from the trio. Working with producer Mike McClure, the band tracked their new material during breaks while touring schedule.

"The idea was to get into the studio and simplify things, remaining as true to a three-piece as possible," said Canada, who sang and wrote songs and played lead guitarist. "If you really want to leave your mark, it's all about the songs, not how many people you can cram into the studio."

Canada was the front man of Cross Canadian Ragweed, a band that dominated the Red Dirt scene for more than a decade. Canada formed the Departed in 2011.

"This record sounds like Cross Canadian Ragweed between 2002 and 2006, and it goes back to the way I originally started writing songs," Canda said. "It's observational writing. I was inspired by the bad news on the television. The good news, too. I was inspired by falling in love all over again with my wife, by watching my kids go through life, by politics, and by the modern world."

Canada was joined by bass player Jeremy Plato (who's played alongside Canada for decades, beginning with Cross Canadian Ragweed's first album) and drummer Eric Hansen (a longtime friend currently celebrating his third year with the band). Also joining the Departed in the studio was McClure, who helped oversee multiple albums for Cross Canadian Ragweed. "3" marks McClure's first collaboration with Canada since the Departed's formation.

"I'm a fan of love," he said. "I love my wife, who I've been with for 20 years. I love my kids. I love my friends. These songs come out of the good times and the bad times, but the recurring theme of this thing is me finding my happy area. I've finally found comfort in who I am. My band's where it needs to be. I don't need to fight it."

Canada and band will tour this spring and summer.