Benjamin Tod And Matt Heckler Team Up For Two New Singles That Are As Country As It Gets

It doesn’t get much more country than this.

If we’re being honest, I don’t know what constitutes “real” country these days. But if somebody were to ask me for some artists out there that are keeping the tradition and sound alive, Benjamin Tod is towards the top of that list, and Matt Heckler definitely deserves a mention, too.

Proving to be about as prolific as it gets, between his solo work and fronting Lost Dog Street Band, Tod released two albums in 2024 before dropping a live album and a slew of singles so far this year. But he’s showing no signs of letting up, and neither is Matt Heckler. Following a spectacular album release earlier this year with No More For To Roam, Heckler clearly still had some gas left in the tank for a meeting of the minds with Tod, and the result is fantastic.

Each having settled down a bit by this point in their lives, after years of hard-living and traveling have taken their toll, both artists are heavily inspired by their life experiences and the ways those have influenced how they see the rest of the world. A couple of guys that can relate to one another in a way many others can not, these songs mark the first co-writes of Heckler’s career, a notion that is an extremely rare phenomenon within Tod’s catalog as well. But this might be a sign they need to do write with another more often.

The first of the two singles, “Kentucky Coal,” is a straightforward yet poignant ode to the coal-mining industry that has been so prominent throughout Kentucky’s history, and a harrowing example of the impact the coal miner’s lifestyle can have on someone. Despite being born in Tennessee, Tod and his wife Ashley Mae currently reside in Muhlenberg County, KY, where the presence of mining still permeates the landscape.

Coming together in just a matter of 20 minutes or so, “Kentucky Coal” seems to be one of those songs that was just meant to be, and the harmonies between this dynamic duo are impeccable as well.

In addition to “Kentucky Coal,” the duo of Tod and Heckler teamed up to release an accompanying single titled “Cry You A River,” that might be even better, believe it or not.

An homage of sorts to John Prine and the Muhlenberg County land on which “Paradise” was inspired and Tod now resides, “Cry You A River” draws on Prine’s reference to “an abandoned old prison down by Airdrie Hill,” and reimagines what these artists think it would have been like to be a prisoner in the area back in the day.

It doesn’t get much more country than these two tracks.

If you like what you’re hearing, make sure to check out Tod’s other recent release, a cover of Waylon Jennings’ “Outlaw Sh*t” that features Shooter Jennings himself.

And give Matt Heckler’s last album No More For To Roam a listen while you’re at it as well. You definitely won’t regret it.

Here is one of my favorites to get you started:

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