Stone Cold Hands
Pugnacious, 2024
9/10
A legend in the area of New Orleans roots sounds, Sean Riley brings along The Water for this debut album that involves 9 originals that showcase his unique voice and guitar playing.
“Dance Me One More Time” starts the listen with a bouncy rhythm, where Bruce ‘Sunpie’ Barnes makes great of accordion and Mike Barras’ punchy drums suit Riley’s playful voice, and “Go Easy On Me” follows with Phil Breen’s lively organ and Tiffany Pollack’s soulful backing vocals.
Halfway through, “Truck Route Blues” showcases Dean Zucchero’s agile bass amid Riley’s flowing guitar and charming voice, while “High And Lonesome” takes the music of Jimmy Reed and turns it into a rugged and spirited version of the blues, Mississippi style.
“Rosie’s Rag” resides near the end, and is an instrumental that employs Waylon Thibodeaux’s fiddle acrobatics alongside Riley’s strategic dobro, and “Shine A Little Stronger” exits with an energetic rhythm section and plenty of backing vocals that illuminates a gospel inclination.
A record that was probably as fun to make as it is to listen to, Riley and company harness the positivity of the New Orleans scene and parlay it into rootsy masterpiece.
Travels well with: Leo Lyons- Movin’ On; Kevin Burt- Thank You Brother Bill: A Tribute To Bill Withers