The House of Songs Invites You to ListenUp! - November 2025
November 19, 2025 @ 6:00PM — 8:00PM Central Time (US & Canada) Add to Calendar
Onward HQ: 110 NW 2nd Street #210 Bentonville, AR 72712 Get Directions
A Very Special ListenUp! Featuring Troy Campbell's American Breakdown!
You are invited to the November 2025 edition of ListenUp! NWA, featuring the solo album American Breakdown, released in 2002 by The House of Songs' founder and director Troy Campbell. Recently remastered and now released for the first time on vinyl! Copies of the album will be available for purchase at the event. Many thanks to Ramsay Ball and Onward HQ for hosting and presenting this month's ListenUp! at their beautiful venue in downtown Bentonville. ListenUp! is a community of kindred spirits who share a love of music. ListenUp! - NWA is modeled after successful groups in Seattle and Austin, Texas. Members gather monthly to listen to a single album and share thoughts and analysis of its artistry, history, and impact.
If you would like to join us for this VERY SPECIAL session, please register soon, as space is limited. We can’t wait to listen with you!
Session 10: Troy Campbell, American Breakdown
Release Date: 2002
Label: Loud House
Studio: Rootball Studio, Austin, TX
Producer: Gurf Morlix
Listening Notes:
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Troy Campbell—co-founder of the influential alt-country band Loose Diamonds, Producer of the Year at the Austin Music Awards, and founder - director of The House of Songs—sees his landmark second solo record American Breakdown remastered and on vinyl for the first time. And we get to be among the first to hear it!
Originally released on September 11, 2001, the album’s title and themes carried unintended weight in the shadow of that day. What has endured is not its timing but its heart: songs that steady the spirit, uncover tenderness in brittle times, and map a way forward—slow down, take stock, keep the engine running.
Produced by Gurf Morlix, the record captures Campbell at a peak of lyrical clarity. The arrangements lean into space and honesty: weathered acoustic guitars, spare electric accents, and a rhythm section moving like headlights on a two-lane night drive. Silence does some of the lifting, so when the band blooms it feels earned. American Breakdown is roots music without costume—folk, alt-country, and late-night rock stitched together with Campbell’s eye for lived detail.
The original cover was photographed in Dublin and designed by Stephen Averill, the legendary art director behind every U2 album. For the vinyl edition, Averill returns with new artwork, paired with a fresh remaster by Jim Wilson. Guest appearances include multi-platinum Irish recording artist Juliet Turner and, on the bonus track Ruby, a haunting duet with Eliza Gilkyson.
As Bruce Springsteen once said of Campbell: “His vocals have that high lonesome, wide-open sound—a rare voice.”
About ListenUp!
Our community includes artists, musicians, and music lovers who share a deep passion for great albums. Attendance typically ranges from 35-40 people, making for an intimate and engaging experience.
Doors open at 6:00 PM. Arrive early to settle in and connect with fellow music lovers. At 7:00 PM sharp, the needle drops. We begin a full, uninterrupted listen to the album. Discussion follows the playback, where we share insights, thoughts, and experience.
We hope to see you November 19th!
-The House of Songs