Nathaniel Rateliff is one of my favorite contemporary singers. His voice has a real richness on the low end and when he decides too really let loose the power he delivers almost sounds unhinged. I also love his weird articulation of certain words– I don’t know this for sure, but I’m pretty sure Rateliff purposefully decides to mispronounce things strategically as an artistic choice vs. any unique accent or inability to sing a word “correctly”. It’s great and always adds a unique color to whatever he’s singing.
Best known for his time with vintage soul band Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Rateliff turned in his upbeat saxophone and trumpet driven sound for a more folksier and somber approach in 2020’s And It’s Still Alright. In the buildup to this album Rateliff had some pretty massive life events take place– the death of his close friend/manager Richard Swift, a failed marriage that led to divorce, and the decision to get sober after years of hard-drinking.
Those themes are all laid bare on And It’s Still Alright. It is an album that is somber and introspective, a candid reflection on life and loss that gets richer with each listen. Best enjoyed alone at night in a dimly lit room, glass of wine in hand.
Standout Songs: “Time Stands”, “And It’s Still Alright”, “You Need Me”, “Rush On”
