Flatland is giving fans even more. Flatland Cavalry released Flatland Forever this fall to celebrate their 10th anniversary. The album featured hits from each of its studio projects, Humble Folks, Homeland Insecurity, Welcome To Countryland, and Wandering Star, as well as its two EPs, Come May and Songs To Keep You Warm. It also included four new songs, some alternate versions of previously released tracks, and commentary from the band. Today, the Lubbock, Texas-founded band gave fans even more content by releasing Flatland Forever(more). The expanded record features more work tapes, commentary pieces, and more. This album has indeed been the gift that keeps on giving. https://www.instagram.com/p/DDz1YkxSYkY/ While the expansion of the album features many stellar pieces of commentary for what inspired a song, one of my favorites is the commentary surrounding their hit "A Life Where We Work Out," featuring Kaitlin Butts. The slow, sad fiddle tune is one of the band's most well-loved songs, and tying in Butts into the track not only allows for Cleto to sing alongside his wife but adds the split commentary of a man and woman both wishing they lived in a life where they ended up together. Given how loved this song is (and it's one of my favorites), I ran to listen to the commentary track surrounding this single. "'A Life Where We Work Out,' this next song I wrote, never intending for it to be a duet. It's just a really sad song written about a relationship I had demolished by my own stupidity and hurtfulness, so it's a rather sad song. I played it for a friend and he told me, 'Man you are pathetic, this has got to be a duet.' And right when he said that I thought of this girl's voice I had heard on the radio recently named Kaitlin Butts. She came and sang on the song, and she turned it into a hopeful song, making it about two people rather than just about one sad boy. I'm super grateful for it because it changed my life, it led me to meet my wife, and it's the first song we ever had that's gone gold. It's just proof of a good thing coming out of a bad situation." https://www.instagram.com/p/DDf5I1RO8F_/ A sad song leading to the start of a beautiful relationship. Kaitlin recalled meeting Cleto to record "A Life Where We Work Out" in a 2020 interview with Voyage Dallas: "Flatland was looking for a female for a duet, 'A Life Where We Work Out.' I recorded it; Cleto and I had a great connection right off the bat, and a couple of years later, he and I moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Fort Worth and are now engaged to be married this fall. We both travel, playing music, and I sometimes join his band on the road. I now also have a place to stay in Nashville, TN, as I am spending a lot of time writing songs..." They truly did make it to a life where they worked out. After the traditional studio cut of the single plays on the tracklist, it's followed by a stunning acoustic take of the song Flatland refers to as the "First Dance Cut." The stripped-back version turns it into a tender love song and features the song in the light Cleto initially thought it would be, a solo male vocalist. If you're a fan of "A Life Where We Work Out," you will be a fan of this "First Dance Cut." Turn it all the way up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9PG_inuVL4