Let’s Straighten It Out!
Belly Up/Blue Elan, 2022
8/10
Listen to Let’s Straighten It Out!
The debut album from The Sully Band, Let’s Straighten It Out puts Sully Sullivan’s voice front and center, as his 9 piece band takes help from guests on the blues, soul and R&B influenced listen.
“When The Battle Is Over” opens the record with Sullivan’s inviting and playful vocals alongside Jon Harford’s frisky guitar, Tres Hodgens’ animated drumming and soulful backing vocals from Rebecca Jade on the bright blues display, and “Hallelujah, I Love Her So” follows with plenty of warmth and melody that does justice to the Ray Charles original.
“Nothing From Nothing” arrives at the halfway point, and employs Grant Benziger on banjo as Mark Charles Hattersley handles organ with much skill, where plenty of cozy grooves are cultivated, while “If I Could Only Be Sure” showcases Sullivan’s expressive pipes amid the flowing rhythm section and frisky keys.
Approaching the end, “Let’s Straighten It Out” embraces well timed brass for the emotive album highlight as Sullivan gets a bit gritty, and “Higher And Higher” exits the listen with a gospel influence that’s powerful, timeless and quite stirring.
An album that was fleshed out in just 5 days, this is a mostly live affair, and the adventurous layering, heartfelt singing and festive demeanor makes for 10 exceptional tracks of sounds indebted to the ‘60s and ‘70s, but that sound quite refreshing in 2022.
Travels well with: Chickenbone Slim- Serve It To Me Hot; Hanna PK- Blues All Over My Shoes