Elizabeth Nelson and The Paranoid Style Return With “White Wine Whatever”

The Paranoid Style returns today with “White Wine Whatever,” a wry, rollicking, anthemic ode to contemporary malaise and cognitive dissonance. The track marks the third single from the band’s forthcoming fifth LP, Known Associates, out February 13, 2026, timed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Bar/None Records.

Elizabeth Nelson explains the chaotic, high-voltage spirit behind the track:

"A favorite Paranoid Style track of mine, though recorded under a dark cloud of inter-band mystery that day—Tim was pissed at Jon, which is common enough, but even William and Peter and the typically unflappable Mike V. seemed on edge. Of course I hadn't slept the night before, or any of the recent nights, finishing the songs and all. We were maniacs. This thing is just a pure fucking brawl. By the time Eugene Edwards—Dwight Yoakam's lead guitarist—laid in a series of intensely greasy licks, Matt Douglas of the Mountain Goats had jumped in too, on sax, it was the closest thing to Mick Taylor and Bobby Keys I've heard since ‘Can't You Hear Me Knocking.’ If nothing else, tune in for that. My fingers are still sticky."

Beyond her work as The Paranoid Style’s bandleader, Elizabeth Nelson continues to expand her creative reach. A decorated journalist, she now adds podcast host to her résumé with the launch of the Known Associates podcast, presented by New Pony in affiliation with Southwest Review. The show features conversations with fellow musicians and writers about their lives and craft; the first two episodes—featuring Craig Finn of The Hold Steady and Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers—are available now.

The release of “White Wine Whatever” follows a string of notable appearances, including NPR + Prairie Public Radio’s Great American Folk Show, where Nelson performed the previously unavailable “Still Creepy After All These Years.” She also recently sat down for a revealing conversation on the Kreative Kontrol podcast, discussing her experience writing the liner notes for The Replacements’ Let It Be (Deluxe Edition)—now published in full via GQ.

The LP’s earlier singles continue to showcase Nelson’s sharp songwriting and The Paranoid Style’s signature punch. October’s “It’s a Dog’s Breakfast (for LR)”—written for Linda Ronstadt—arrived with a companion essay by Nelson for Southwest Review. “Tearing the Ticket,” released in August, serves as a tribute to late DC-area guitar legends Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan. One part elegy and one part vow to persevere, the track features Mountain Goats multi-instrumentalist Matt Douglas on saxophone and flute, and is dedicated to Bar/None’s late longtime label manager Mark Lipsitz.

On Known Associates, Nelson is joined by her core lineup—Peter Holsapple, William Matheny, Michael Venutolo-Mantovani, Jon Langmead, and Timothy Bracy—along with special contributions from Matt Douglas and Eugene Edwards, the latter a disciple of Danny Gatton and lead guitarist for Dwight Yoakam. The album follows 2024’s critically acclaimed The Interrogator, which earned praise from NPR/WHYY’s Fresh Air, Pitchfork, BrooklynVegan, Relix, FLOOD, The Vinyl District, and more.

A fever dream of Van Morrison horns and Leonard Cohen shadows, Known Associates cements Elizabeth Nelson’s reputation as one of today’s most essential songwriters. As her literary star continues to rise—reinforced by work in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Oxford American, and liner notes for Bob Dylan and The Replacements—Nelson further channels the slow-burn brilliance of heroes like Lucinda Williams.

Regal, ragged, and rich with the hard luck stories, cracked revelations, and thrift-store miracles that define the greats—from Richard Thompson to David Berman to Tom Waits—Known Associates is already shaping up to be one of 2026’s standout releases, and a defining statement from one of the most compelling voices in modern songwriting.

Pre-order Known Associates by The Paranoid Style, out February 13, 2026 on Bar/None Records here.