The music industry is now powered by independent music. It is easier than ever to promote your own band with the internet and it is changing the music industry for the better. A person can promote their own art and reach a national audience without spending tons of time or money. This creates many good and bad sides of independent music that I won’t get into here.

This kind of promotion led me to find a little country band named Brother Howe. The little-known band from Michigan plays a rowdy country songs that could be called country-punk. After releasing one album they put out a brief 4-track sampler named Heaven Is My Retirement Plan. The album is lead by the swinging title track that is a classic take on the hard luck story of the economy.

The band also tackles Weezer’s “Undone (The Sweater Song)” and breathes a little new life into the song as it is reborn as a punkish-country number. The band of course tips its cap to outlaw country legends such as Johnny Cash frequently on the EP. They also work in more modern country styles like at times sounding like a slower version of Reverend Horton Heat.

Heaven Is My Retirement Plan works as a nice introduction to a band tackling its music with a fresh perspective. The title track may be the only must hear of the four songs but you’ll definitely hear enough to be intrigued to listen to more from Brother Howe.

Key Tracks: “Heaven Is My Retirement Plan” “Undone(The Sweater Song)”