THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Happiness For Beginners is the seventh solo record by L.A. singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Luther Russell.
Russell’s first solo album since 2019’s Medium Cool, Happiness For Beginners features 10 jangled-out, 12-string Rickenbacker-driven love songs. This time, the writing is more literate, darker, and romantically inclined.
Luther has crafted a stunning slice of rock that shimmers as it reflects an era that sidled alongside what became punk, the melodic charisma of Ork Records, and the proto-power pop of Bomp! and Stiff Records, into the prime of post-punk-from the jangly college rock landscape of America to the U.K. raincoat guitar-group vanguard of the ’80s.
Along with Russell on guitar and vocals, the album features bassist Jason Hiller, drummer Ben LeCourt, longtime collaborator SBT (Sarabeth Tucek) and old friend Jason Falkner of Jellyfish / Three O’Clock / The Grays.
Russell has a rich history in music. For a decade, he has been half of the endearing folk-pop duo Those Pretty Wrongs, serving alongside Big Star’s Jody Stephens. Luther is also the grandson of Bob Russell and the grandnephew of Bud Green, whose songs are part of the great American songbook. He has become an accomplished producer and Grammy-nominated songwriter, and after six solo albums and a few brushes with mainstream rock ’n’ roll glory, he has returned with Happiness for Beginners.”
