The Immediate Family
Quarto Valley, 2021
9/10
Listen to The Immediate Family
An assembly of some well seasoned vets in the music industry, The Immediate Family brings together Danny Kortchmar (guitar and vocals), Waddy Wachtel (guitar and vocals), Leland Sklar (bass), and Russ Kunkel (drums), as well as the esteemed touring, session guitarist, and songwriter Steve Postell (guitar and vocals). Collectively, they embrace the spirit of legends like James Taylor, Stevie Knicks and David Crosby, plus many more on this versatile self-titled album.
“Can’t Stop Progress” starts the listen with plenty of grit and melody as a thick and memorable version of blues rock unfolds with most members singing, and “Slippin’ And Slidin’” follows with crisp drumming and sturdy guitar work complementing the rugged, soaring vocals and subtle funk nods.
Further down the line, “Divorced” flows with a breezy quality of tuneful and harmonic songwriting that’s much brighter than the song’s lyrical theme, while “Fair Warning” thumps with some classic rock spirit in its sing-along climate. “Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead”, the album’s best, then recruits a rootsy flavor into the flowing and agile demeanor.
Deeper yet, “Turn It Up To Ten” bounces with a rhythmic and timeless rock approach, and they exit the listen with the charming cover of “Somebody’s Baby”, where the band retain all the hallmarks of the classic that make this one of the best songs of the early ‘80s, and it sounds just as great here recorded live.
An outfit with incredible chemistry, Kortchmar, Kunkel, and Sklar all played together in The Section several decades ago, and this debut LP certainly proves that their skills haven’t waned one bit and just might make them one of the most exciting supergroups today.
Travels well with: Jackson Browne- Downhill From Everywhere; Too Slim And The Taildraggers- The Remedy