The Grahams Release "The Bridge" on Vinyl - A Personal Portrait Pressed in Wax
- Josh Markarian
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
A Personal Portrait Pressed in Wax
Some records feel like postcards from the road, others like diary entries written late at night. The Bridge, the fourth studio album from Alyssa and Doug Graham, manages to be both. It’s the most personal record they’ve made, and on vinyl, its warmth comes alive in a way streaming can’t touch.
Since their debut in 2013, The Grahams have tied their music to travel. Riverman’s Daughter was born on a Mississippi riverboat, Glory Bound came from riding the rails, and Kids Like Us followed Route 66 by motorcycle. Those albums looked outward, inspired by landscapes and the people they met along the way. The Bridge turns inward. Named for the George Washington Bridge that carried them from New Jersey to New York City during their formative years, this record is less about places and more about who they’ve become. Alyssa and Doug, high school sweethearts who’ve been together nearly four decades, dig into their own story with honesty, vulnerability, and a touch of playfulness.
“This is the first self-portrait we have made,” they share. “It feels like the first time we have truly looked inwards and shared what we found. The good, the bad, the ugly, and, overall, the beauty. The Bridge is our story.”
Songs That Tell Their Story
The record kicks off with “Worst Parts of Me,” a playful love song that leans into the quirks of long-term relationships instead of sanding them down. It’s a reminder that love is built on the imperfections as much as the highlights. Then comes “The One Who Remembers,” and the mood shifts. Stripped down to piano and voice, it carries the weight of Alzheimer’s with a rawness that’s hard to shake. It’s a moment of vulnerability pressed that lingers long after the last note.
On the flip side, “Found It In Us” feels like the heart of the album. It’s reflective, almost like the Grahams are looking back at all the chasing they’ve done whether that be touring, traveling, or searching, only to realize the dream was right there in their relationship all along. The album closes with “Only New York,” which feels less like a song and more like a love letter to the city that shaped them. It’s sweeping, textured, and ties the whole record together like a final chapter.
It's worth noting that The Grahams’ personal story adds depth to the record. They’ve spent nearly 40 years together, traveling, writing, and building a life around music. Their trilogy of travel-inspired albums was ambitious, but The Bridge feels like the culmination of what they’ve learned. It’s less about chasing something out there, more about recognizing what they already have.
They’ve also built community through their East Nashville studio and label, 3Sirens, and through their DAG Foundation, which supports musicians, writers, and artists. That spirit of collaboration and giving back runs through the album.
About the Record
The Bridge benefits from seasoned collaborators, having been produced and mixed by GRAMMY-nominated Dex Green, as well as contributions from Kate York and Aaron Lee Tasjan. The band behind them is also stacked; Matt Chamberlain on drums, Sebastian Steinberg on bass, Ray Jacildo on keys, Rob Burger on piano, and Patrick Warren on synths. These players have backed Fiona Apple, Bob Dylan, The Black Keys, Iron & Wine, and Aimee Mann. Here, they push The Grahams into new territory while keeping the heart of their Americana roots intact. There are also additional performances by Jamie Dick (drums), Little Jack Lawrence (bass), Laure Epling (violin), and Austin Hoke (cello).
On vinyl, The Bridge feels even more personal. The warmth of the mix, the full-bodied sound, and those quiet breaths between tracks invite you to slow down and really listen.
There’s something about hearing the needle trace the grooves that makes these songs hit harder. This is an album that rewards the ritual, sitting down, flipping the record, and letting the music take your full attention.
You can grab the limited-edition pink vinyl pressing of The Bridge here on Amazon.
Collectors will want to move fast before it disappears.
The Bridge isn’t just another release in The Grahams’ catalog. It’s a focal point, a record that hones in on who they are. On vinyl, it becomes more than music, it becomes a story pressed in wax, a reminder that sometimes the most powerful journeys are the ones inward.
Whether you’ve followed The Grahams since Riverman’s Daughter or you’re just discovering them now, The Bridge deserves a place in your collection.
The Bridge Track Listing:
Worst Parts of Me
The One Who Remembers
The Best I Ever Had
Don’t Give Us Away
Maybe This Song
Little Fires
Let’s Disappear
Found It In Us
Georgette
Edge of Night
Only New York
And while you’re at it, check out the creative hub they’ve built at 3Sirens, their East Nashville label and studio that’s become a home for collaboration and community.
Follow The Grahams
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