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.”

Cowan, who spent decades working behind the scenes with some of the country’s finest songwriters—including Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Nanci Griffith, Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark and Michael Martin Murphey—released his surprise debut So Far, So Good in 2024. The album quickly earned praise from critics and peers, establishing him not only as a champion of great music, but as a compelling artist in his own right.