Rock magazine editors at SPIN recently named Lance Cowan’s 2025 sophomore release Against the Grain one of their favorite albums of the year, writing: “Last year, Lance Cowan proved that a veteran Americana PR man could make an album on par with those of his clients. This year, he proved that he could beat the sophomore slump. The mid-’70s country-rock instrumentation and vocal harmonies remain, but they’re at the service of sharper hooks, hooks that would’ve embedded themselves in the Top 40 back when millions were checking into the Hotel California.”
 
On Against the Grain, Cowan is joined by an exceptional cast of musicians, including Dan Dugmore (Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor), Pat Flynn (New Grass Revival), Vinny Santoro (Rodney Crowell), and Billy & Chip Davis (Alabama, Dolly Parton), among others—players whose contributions help bring his vivid, country-rock storytelling to life.