Judy Blank could well be the biggest name on the underground country pop scene at the moment, and her new album, Big Mood, shows us why.
By Graeme Smith
Blank’s point of view comes through strongly across her new album’s thirteen tracks. She takes on topics such as mental health, climate change, and social injustice through astute and memorable songwriting in tracks like Toy Heart, an early highlight. It sets Big Mood apart from the crowd.
The outward-facing Dinosaurs is another poignant moment, set in a world sleep-walking into destruction. Each track feels meticulously planned out. Not a word is wasted while the beautifully-constructed country pop instrumentals rock.
There are gentler moments too. Cosmic Kids and Fading Star are a delicate duo at the heart of the album. No Thank You strips things back for a vulnerable moment that meditates on the end.
Blank’s hope-and-nostalgia-tinged nihilism comes through no matter what the topic or tempo. The overall message seems to be we’re doomed, but we can still party. It’s an oddly refreshing sentiment when delivered by her.
Judy Blank has appeared twice before on our blog, but our shares of her music have been few and far between. It was in 2018 that I shared her track and video Mary Jane. In 2021, Jane featured her single Karaoke. It’s taken us another four years to reacquaint ourselves with her through this album. It’s been worth the wait.
In the meantime, she’s been busy making a name for herself. She’s opened for Noah Kahan & Flipturn, toured in Europe with Katie Pruitt, and even played Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion. None other than Elton John praised her award-winning debut album, Morning Sun. Originally from the Netherlands, she’s now based in Nashville, USA.
Big Mood is out 22 August 2025, and I’m certain it’ll make a splash just like her debut. You can pre-save it on all major streaming platforms or pre-order it on vinyl here.