Hope
Yep Roc, 2021
8/10
The veteran musician and two-time Grammy Winner Jim Lauderdale returns with his 34th album, and his longtime collaborator Jay Weaver is on board as they pen a listen that offers hope during these very difficult times.
“The Opportunity To Help Somebody Through It” gets the listen off to a very stylish and soulful version of folk-rock, where Lauderdale’s smooth pipes are met with proficient guitar work, charming bass and punchy drumming, and “Sister Horizon” continues the inviting landscape with glowing pedal steel as the setting lands in Americana territory.
Further into the listen, “Mushrooms Are Growing After The Rain” isn’t short on nostalgic melody that sounds right at home in much earlier decades, while “Breathe Real Slow” burns slow amid plenty of emotion in the lush delivery that touches on country sounds. “We Fade In We Fade Out”, one of the album’s best, then brings both rugged and melodic qualities to the rootsy landscape that even flirts with psychedelia.
Deeper still, the energetic and dance friendly “Here’s To Hoping” cultivates a very infectious mood that bounces and shakes with well timed brass, and “Joyful Noise” exits the listen swift, positive and even uplifting as Lauderdale’s songwriting remains consistently strong throughout the entire affair.
Lauderdale is in the company of plenty of Nashville’s finest, including Chris Scruggs (mandolin, guitars), Will Van Horn (pedal steel) and Pat Bubert (drums, percussion), among others, and though the album is often steeped in ‘70s folk sensibilities, you’ll also spot funk, indie-rock, country, pop and rock, as Lauderdale adds yet another diverse body of work to his impressive catalog.
Travels well with: James McMurtry- The Horses And The Hounds; Kelly Hogan- I Like To Keep Myself In Pain