From pots and pans to poetry to profound musical statements – Spencer Sanders’ journey to “Almanac: Volume 1,” released September 20, 2024, reads like a story of artistic inevitability. These eight tracks, produced by Dean Miller and Landon Alley, transform personal turbulence into 33 minutes of emotional cartography.
Opening track “Rust” sets the tone with unflinching honesty about betrayal in the wake of coming out. Featuring JT Bates on drums (known for work with Ed Sheeran and Bon Iver), the track’s metaphor lands with precision: “Just like that old music box I bought for you back in Austin / You left it in the rain one night / It never played the same.”
“Someday Soon” captures California dreaming with remarkable specificity, opening with a weather report that grounds the track’s romantic yearning in lived experience. Bates returns on drums, helping to create the perfect foundation when Sanders sings “You and me believe so differently / But darling boy, you alone can bring me joy.”
“Wishing Wells” completes the trio of tracks featuring Bates, showcasing Sanders’ ability to craft complex imagery without losing emotional directness. “I’m made of insubstantial promises / Constellations gone unnamed” paints a picture of someone grappling with identity while warning others about the depths beneath still waters.
“Paradise Found” demonstrates Sanders’ cinematic storytelling abilities, elevated by an all-star Nashville lineup including Steve Nathan on keys, Troy Lancaster on electric guitar, Shawn Fichter on drums, Steve Mackey on bass, and Sam Hunter on acoustic guitar and mandolin. These seasoned musicians, known for work with artists like Taylor Swift, Florence + the Machine, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and Kacey Musgraves, help create a rich sonic landscape matching Sanders’ ambitious vision.
“Maybe…” and “War & Peace” form the album’s emotional core, each exploring different aspects of love’s aftermath. The production throughout supports rather than overwhelms Sanders’ vocals, creating space for both vulnerability and strength to shine through.
“Iced Moonshine” provides one of the album’s most vivid narratives, its imagery of “Cowboys flickering in firelight” creating a distinctly American tableau for universal emotions. The track particularly benefits from Miller and Alley’s production touches, which maintain intimacy while adding cinematic scope.
The collection closes with “Golden Age,” offering hope without ignoring the journey’s difficulties. “I’ve got a few dozen traumas / But look what healing allows” encapsulates the album’s broader themes of resilience and growth, providing a fitting conclusion to this musical almanac.
What sets this debut apart is its careful balance of poetic detail and emotional accessibility. Sanders’ background in musical theater and poetry serves his songwriting well, creating lyrics that reward close attention while maintaining immediate impact. The decision to debut these songs at Boise Pride 2024 speaks to their power as both personal expression and communal celebration.
The production throughout maintains perfect equilibrium between folk intimacy and pop polish. Working with Nashville’s finest, including mandolinist Sam Hunter, Sanders has created arrangements that serve the songs while adding subtle complexity. Each instrument feels purposeful, each production choice intentional.
At 33 minutes, “Almanac: Volume 1” is remarkably efficient, suggesting its “Volume 1” designation promises more to come. The sequencing creates a natural emotional arc that carries listeners through various seasons of the heart, living up to the album’s meteorological title.
For someone who claims he “lacked the patience to write novels,” Sanders demonstrates remarkable skill at long-form storytelling through song. Each track stands alone while contributing to a larger narrative about growth, identity, and the courage to face life’s changing weather.
Perhaps most impressively, “Almanac: Volume 1” never feels like a debut despite being one. Sanders arrives fully formed as a songwriter and storyteller, his experiences in musical theater and poetry having prepared him well for this moment. The album’s sound, bridging folk pop, Americana, chamber pop, and indie rock, feels both timely and timeless.
For fans of thoughtful singer-songwriters who value both craft and authenticity, “Almanac: Volume 1” is essential listening. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best way to navigate life’s storms is to chart them carefully, turning personal weather into universal maps that help others find their way home.
Star rating: 4.5/5
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