ArtistDirect News
Benjamin Tod Releases 12-Track Covers Album Country Is Dead
Benjamin Tod, the frontman of Nashville’s Lost Dog Street Band, has released a 12‑track covers album that reimagines classic country, folk and Americana songs. Titled Country Is Dead, the record was made available digitally through Thirty Tigers on September 9, 2026. The project traces the musical lineage that has informed Tod’s solo work and the band’s catalog, spanning early country pioneers to later traditional and outsider voices.
The album opens with Jimmie Rodgers’ “Waiting For A Train,” placing the first recorded country star at the center of Tod’s musical ancestry. The second track, “Hickory Wind” by The Byrds, follows, linking the California country‑rock movement to the rest of the set. Subsequent selections include Larry Sparks’ “Natural Thing To Do,” Ricky Skaggs’ “Highway 40 Blues,” and Hank Locklin’s “Nashville Women.” Tod then revisits Merle Haggard’s “You Take Me For Granted,” Don Williams’ “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend,” and Hank Williams’ “Alone And Forsaken.” The final half of the album features George Jones’ “Color Of The Blues,” Bob Dylan’s “Only A Hobo,” Billy Joe Shaver’s “Ragged Old Truck,” and Keith Whitley’s “Turn This Thing Around.”
In an interview with Noise11, Tod explained that the record is not a conventional covers collection but a series of reinterpretations. “My general take on covers is they either need to be done differently, or done better,” he said. “There’s a few that are impossible to do either with, but I think we hit that mark on most of this record. I wanted to take on the challenge of making new arrangements, and in some cases, reinventing old standards in completely different ways.” The album reflects a return to the songs that shaped Tod’s early career; several tracks were part of his repertoire while busking on Nashville streets as a teenager.
Country Is Dead follows Tod’s April 2026 solo release Vengeance And Grace, also distributed by Thirty Tigers. That album presented original material across a two‑sided concept exploring contrasting aspects of Tod’s songwriting, with traditional country and folk music forming its foundation. The new covers record therefore sits alongside his original work, offering listeners a window into the influences that continue to inform his approach.
Tod’s solo catalog began with I Will Rise (2017), followed by A Heart Of Gold Is Hard To Find (2019) and Songs I Swore I’d Never Sing (2022). Shooting Star was released in 2024, accompanied by a series of singles and collaborations. As the lead singer and guitarist of Lost Dog Street Band, Tod has released several albums through independent channels, including Sick Pup, Life’s A Dog‑gone Shame, Homeward Bound, Rage And Tragedy, Weight Of A Trigger, The Magnolia Sessions, Glory, Survived, and Live From A Mile High. Weight Of A Trigger achieved a notable chart placement, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart in 2019. The band has also maintained a strong connection to independent music‑making, using crowdfunding for releases and self‑publishing video content.
Benjamin Tod Flippo, the artist, began playing guitar at age seven and began performing seriously in his teens. His early years spent traveling and busking in Nashville laid the groundwork for the partnership with his wife, Ashley Mae, that led to the formation of Lost Dog Street Band in 2010. The group’s sound blends traditional country, bluegrass, and folk elements, and its catalog reflects a DIY ethos that has earned it a dedicated following.
Thirty Tigers, the Nashville‑based independent music marketing and distribution company, has handled the release of both Tod’s solo projects and the Lost Dog Street Band albums. The company’s model focuses on providing artists with marketing, distribution, and management services while preserving creative control.
Country Is Dead is available for streaming and download on all major digital platforms. The album’s release date, September 9, 2026, coincides with the anniversary of the album’s distribution through Thirty Tigers, marking a milestone in Tod’s career as both a solo artist and band frontman. The record’s availability digitally ensures that fans worldwide can access the reinterpretations immediately upon release.
The album’s title, Country Is Dead, signals Tod’s critique of modern country trends, yet the collection itself underscores his reverence for the genre’s heritage. By reworking songs that shaped his formative years, he offers listeners a curated journey through country’s evolution, from the early recordings of Jimmie Rodgers to the outlaw‑influenced stylings of Keith Whitley. The project positions Tod as both a steward and innovator within the Americana tradition.
The album opens with Jimmie Rodgers’ “Waiting For A Train,” placing the first recorded country star at the center of Tod’s musical ancestry. The second track, “Hickory Wind” by The Byrds, follows, linking the California country‑rock movement to the rest of the set. Subsequent selections include Larry Sparks’ “Natural Thing To Do,” Ricky Skaggs’ “Highway 40 Blues,” and Hank Locklin’s “Nashville Women.” Tod then revisits Merle Haggard’s “You Take Me For Granted,” Don Williams’ “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend,” and Hank Williams’ “Alone And Forsaken.” The final half of the album features George Jones’ “Color Of The Blues,” Bob Dylan’s “Only A Hobo,” Billy Joe Shaver’s “Ragged Old Truck,” and Keith Whitley’s “Turn This Thing Around.”
In an interview with Noise11, Tod explained that the record is not a conventional covers collection but a series of reinterpretations. “My general take on covers is they either need to be done differently, or done better,” he said. “There’s a few that are impossible to do either with, but I think we hit that mark on most of this record. I wanted to take on the challenge of making new arrangements, and in some cases, reinventing old standards in completely different ways.” The album reflects a return to the songs that shaped Tod’s early career; several tracks were part of his repertoire while busking on Nashville streets as a teenager.
Country Is Dead follows Tod’s April 2026 solo release Vengeance And Grace, also distributed by Thirty Tigers. That album presented original material across a two‑sided concept exploring contrasting aspects of Tod’s songwriting, with traditional country and folk music forming its foundation. The new covers record therefore sits alongside his original work, offering listeners a window into the influences that continue to inform his approach.
Tod’s solo catalog began with I Will Rise (2017), followed by A Heart Of Gold Is Hard To Find (2019) and Songs I Swore I’d Never Sing (2022). Shooting Star was released in 2024, accompanied by a series of singles and collaborations. As the lead singer and guitarist of Lost Dog Street Band, Tod has released several albums through independent channels, including Sick Pup, Life’s A Dog‑gone Shame, Homeward Bound, Rage And Tragedy, Weight Of A Trigger, The Magnolia Sessions, Glory, Survived, and Live From A Mile High. Weight Of A Trigger achieved a notable chart placement, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart in 2019. The band has also maintained a strong connection to independent music‑making, using crowdfunding for releases and self‑publishing video content.
Benjamin Tod Flippo, the artist, began playing guitar at age seven and began performing seriously in his teens. His early years spent traveling and busking in Nashville laid the groundwork for the partnership with his wife, Ashley Mae, that led to the formation of Lost Dog Street Band in 2010. The group’s sound blends traditional country, bluegrass, and folk elements, and its catalog reflects a DIY ethos that has earned it a dedicated following.
Thirty Tigers, the Nashville‑based independent music marketing and distribution company, has handled the release of both Tod’s solo projects and the Lost Dog Street Band albums. The company’s model focuses on providing artists with marketing, distribution, and management services while preserving creative control.
Country Is Dead is available for streaming and download on all major digital platforms. The album’s release date, September 9, 2026, coincides with the anniversary of the album’s distribution through Thirty Tigers, marking a milestone in Tod’s career as both a solo artist and band frontman. The record’s availability digitally ensures that fans worldwide can access the reinterpretations immediately upon release.
The album’s title, Country Is Dead, signals Tod’s critique of modern country trends, yet the collection itself underscores his reverence for the genre’s heritage. By reworking songs that shaped his formative years, he offers listeners a curated journey through country’s evolution, from the early recordings of Jimmie Rodgers to the outlaw‑influenced stylings of Keith Whitley. The project positions Tod as both a steward and innovator within the Americana tradition.