CAT#: ULY041
ARTIST: Doug Newman
TITLE: ULYSSA Presents: Doug Newman
DATE: 06/12/2025
FORMAT: Digital
PRICE: $9

For the last twenty-some-odd years, Doug Newman has lived out of his well kempt minivan — delivering food via mountain bike in metro areas by day; quietly recording his songs in parks and campsites by night. He's abandoned normal life as most would define it. Perhaps at some point, he became exhausted with modernity. Perhaps he threw in the towel on Love. Probably a bit of both. He’s out there right now, likely somewhere west of the Mississippi. Every now and again, he’ll pop up at an open mic night in Branson or Boulder and sometimes even as far east as Nashville. Less an irascible, roving bohemian like, say, Harry Smith or Michael Hurley, Doug is more gentle, shrugging and buttoned up, a McCartney-type character. But don't get it twisted Doug's as reallyrealdealio as both Harry or Hurley. A True American Wildass, some might say. It's just that across from him at a coffee shop, you’d never finger him as a nomadic bard. Just an interesting fella, reminds you of your dad after a day of swimming. A lil stoic and lil'er lightheaded and permatanned and accidentally cool. Yeah, you might also note that Doug’s hushed, lilting voice does sound a bit like McCartney’s, but just after a wee cold. Also like Sir Paul, Doug’s songs are full of characters — a cat named Dog; a surfer; the Wombat and the Chicken Toad; and a tapeworm that haunts him like a specter (all of which we’ve rendered lovingly on the album art for our compilation). His horse Jed and his Sweet Señorita also pop up. Wistful, simple tunes that aren’t afraid to make a dumb joke. High & Lonesome. Low & high some too. Iron & Wine’s ‘Our Endless Numbered Days’ or Hiss Golden Messenger’s ‘Bad Debt’ but for guys who prefer a clean shirt, a regular shave and semi-regular visit to Supercuts. Recorded a little quieter than your average record, Doug’s almost-whispered little ditties doubledogdare YOU, dear listener, to sit just as quietly. Lower your goddamn device and lean in close to Doug’s songs of loss and longing; of what you can do with your boundless love when you’re waaaaaaay out there — out there always-always-always headed slow-and-steady, hands at 10 & 2 toward the horizon. Making peace with all your regrets as the Hardee's slowly turn into Carl's Jr's and then from Carl's Jr's back into Hardee's.