Rodney Rice
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
A highly diverse body of work from Colorado’s Rodney Rice, the 9 songs here span ideas from New Orleans to Nashville to Laurel Canyon to Woodstock, and they’re all executed with plenty of warmth and sincerity.
“How You Told Me So” opens the listen with Micah Hulscher’s frisky keys illuminating Rice’s friendly and smooth pipes in the rootsy climate, and “Get To Where I’m Going” follows with Sean Thompson’s radiant guitar contributing much to the gritty yet melodic country rock.
In the middle, the intimate spirit of “Rabbit Ears Motel” has Dennis Crouch’s precise bass complementing the thumping versus reflective climate, while “Roll River Roll” showcases the rhythm section of Jack Lawrence (bass) and Dave Racine (drums) for the soulful and cozy album highlight.
Close to the end, the bouncy and dance floor ready “Wonder Where I Came From” carries a bit of honky tonk fun via the frisky energy and “Every Passing Day” exits with a heartfelt and eloquent demeanor that populates the entire listen.
This is Rice’s 3rd album, and his guitar playing and singing are immediately enjoyable, and the company he keeps, especially with the many backing vocalists, sure does make these rowdy, sometimes subdued and always relatable songs worth many listens.
Travels well with: The Waymores- Stone Sessions; The Shootouts- Bullseye