Love & Desperation
Tres Pescadores, 2020
8/10
The guitarist, singer and songwriter Rick Shea has enjoyed a 4 decade career that includes playing folk, blues, rock and country. On this 12th solo album, Shea’s alongside Shawn Nourse on drums, bassist Jeff Turmes and his longtime collaborator, Dale Hall, among others.
Shea starts the listen with the infectious spirit of the rockabilly fun of “Blues Stop Knockin’ At My Door”, where Phil Parlapiano’s accordion mixes well with Shea’s electric guitar, and “Blues At Midnight” follows with a calmer pace of soulful singing alongside restrained, warm blues prowess.
Further along, “Big Rain Is Comin’ Mama” makes great use of steel guitar in the rootsy rocker, while “A Tenderhearted Love” enters ballad territory, as harmony vocals and a Hammond B3 add much to the sublime ballad. “Juanita (Why Are You So Mean)” then recruits a bouncy, dance friendly spirit with an Irish flavor that’s immediately contagious.
Closer to the end, “Mystic Canyon” glides with agile beauty that doesn’t need vocals to emit much emotion, and “Texas Lawyer” exits the listen with a country shuffle as mandolin and trumpet help build rich textures of timeless song craft.
Shea and company had much of the album laid out just as lockdown started, so they had to go the digital route and record their respective parts in their homes. It all flows together seamlessly, though, and while blues is certainly the focus, there’s also country, folk and cajun present, and it’s all delivered in Shea’s inimitable and exceptional vision.
Travels well with: Jesse Dayton- The Outsider; Eric Brace & Last Train Home- Daytime Highs & Overnight Lows