Austin-based musician Shakey Graves recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of his breakout debut album, “Roll the Bones,” originally released exclusively on Bandcamp. The special double LP release is now available on all digital service providers for the first time!

Roll The Bones X, the special edition reissue, has already generated widespread attention from Shakey Graves’ ever devoted fanbase, pre-selling over 6,000 copies of the deluxe vinyl reissue. The album reached number 136 on the US Billboard 200.

The one-man band has sold over 400,000 records to date, while garnering over 325 million streams worldwide. Following the release of “And The War Came” in 2014, Shakey Graves won an Americana Music Award for Emerging Artist of the Year, and the album’s hit single “Dearly Departed” sold over 500,000 units in North America alone. 

The Artist Behind the Band

When Shakey Graves’ frontman Alejandro Rose-Garcia first arrived on the music scene, there was little known about him, other than the fact that he was just a gentleman from Texas. His name remained in a mysterious shadow. Fast forward to 10 years later, it’s safe to say this Austin native has emerged from the shadows, considering all the record sales and streams the album has garnered up since its release. 

Rose-Garcia released “Roll The Bones” on Bandcamp in 2011 without any promotion and little to no information. That same year, Bandcamp made it a featured album for a month, and from there it remained among the website’s top-selling records. Despite being offered as a pay-what-you-want release on Bandcamp, that didn’t stop the superfans and massive cult following from racking up the numbers. And the record has gone on to sell well over 100,000 units over the past decade – even while being available for free download.

“If you discover something for yourself, it will always hold more water because it’s tied to memory and coincidence,” Rose-Garcia reasons as he explains why he never pushed Roll the Bones onto a wider marketplace. “It gives you a sense of ownership as a listener.”

Now, millions of new listeners and soon to be fans (if not already) are able to listen to the original recordings and purchase a proper vinyl release complete with the bonus companion LP “Odds & Ends,” a 15-track collection of previously unheard Shakey Graves material from the early era. Highlights include deep cuts, such as the first-ever true recording of “Late July,” a version that’s drastically different from the live rendition that’s generated over 14 million views on YouTube. 

An Origin Story

If there’s one thing for sure, the re-release of “Roll the Bones X” is important to include in Rose-Garcia’s discography. After all, it’s his origin story from when he first began, and the most intentional work he’s ever produced. Fans would say it’s one of the most cherished and important pieces of work he’s ever created, as it’s carried them through all their triumphs and hardships. And, most importantly, become a huge part of their own individual story.

“It’s a record that sounds like my years of exploration and influence, funneled through my abilities at the time – and it all became something bigger,” Rose-Garcia muses. “If you would’ve offered to me: ‘Let’s do exactly what you want, right now,’ Roll the Bones wouldn’t have come out like this… and I’m happy that’s the case.”

Cover photo Magen Buse

Leean Vargas is an Editorial Assistant at Texas Lifestyle Magazine and an honors graduate of

Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations.