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The prevailing thought is 'Rock is Dead'. That has been the refrain for awhile. Surely, a look at the most popular artists on websites like Pitchfork are artists who sell millions of downloads.
As far as such things go, it's not a bad thing that even indie music has opened their eyes that music is more than white guys with guitars, though it's hard to imagine retroactively that EPMD and Janet Jackson would have been spoken about in the same reverent tones as the Pixies and Replacements.
Yet, like most generalities, this ignores the fact that we are seeing a boom in some artists in the genre that used to be called Adult Alternative.
Even moreso, there are quite a few good artists who are getting airplay- Nathaniel Ratliff & the Night Sweats, the Revivalists, Milky Chance, Alabama Shakes, the Avett Brothers, and the late great Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.
I think we will look back at this era with the awe we give to the short lived Roots Rock revival which put people like Rank & File and Jason & the Scorchers on the radio in the 80s.
There are probably a few things that brought us here, and to me, this is mostly to be followed from the success of Mumford & Sons and them bringing folk to the mainstream. I am not a Mumford fan, but it is clear to see that they led the way for in short order, the Lumineers, Of Monsters and Men, and the Head and the Heart.
But, it would also be worthwhile to mention Jack White (and the Black Keys) who certainly brought the bluesier moments in and is probably as vital in the success of Ratliff and Alabama Shakes. Plus, although there are not many moments sonically that connect, surely these bands are cousins of the jam bands who kept on truckin' (!) through the days when rock was considered dead.
Which brings me to Ratliff, who I like quite a bit. You may know the story, as he had just about given up on music and broke through before quitting.
You may know "SOB" which was a FM radio hit, bringing blues based rock to stations that normally play White Zombie and Motley Crue.
As for me, I am really digging the new album "Tearing at the Seams". It doesn't have a hot single like SOB though "You Worry Me" is breaking through. It is however a consistently good listen. The songs stay short (usually under five minutes) but build like classic soul. Signing to Stax Records seems appropriately apt. Van Morrison is the name that always comes up in describing Ratliff, and it's hard to think of any closer comparison, though Ratliff never sounds completely indebted. Otis Redding as well, seems to be looking down on the proceedings, but its a very modern rock sound too. To me, I think of the band they spent last summer supporting, Kings of Leon, although reviewers don't seem inclined to pair the two. Surely, both grew up on The Band and CCR.
Anyway, this one is different than what I normally like, but think it's a strong record for 2018.
As far as such things go, it's not a bad thing that even indie music has opened their eyes that music is more than white guys with guitars, though it's hard to imagine retroactively that EPMD and Janet Jackson would have been spoken about in the same reverent tones as the Pixies and Replacements.
Yet, like most generalities, this ignores the fact that we are seeing a boom in some artists in the genre that used to be called Adult Alternative.
Even moreso, there are quite a few good artists who are getting airplay- Nathaniel Ratliff & the Night Sweats, the Revivalists, Milky Chance, Alabama Shakes, the Avett Brothers, and the late great Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.
I think we will look back at this era with the awe we give to the short lived Roots Rock revival which put people like Rank & File and Jason & the Scorchers on the radio in the 80s.
There are probably a few things that brought us here, and to me, this is mostly to be followed from the success of Mumford & Sons and them bringing folk to the mainstream. I am not a Mumford fan, but it is clear to see that they led the way for in short order, the Lumineers, Of Monsters and Men, and the Head and the Heart.
But, it would also be worthwhile to mention Jack White (and the Black Keys) who certainly brought the bluesier moments in and is probably as vital in the success of Ratliff and Alabama Shakes. Plus, although there are not many moments sonically that connect, surely these bands are cousins of the jam bands who kept on truckin' (!) through the days when rock was considered dead.
Which brings me to Ratliff, who I like quite a bit. You may know the story, as he had just about given up on music and broke through before quitting.
You may know "SOB" which was a FM radio hit, bringing blues based rock to stations that normally play White Zombie and Motley Crue.
As for me, I am really digging the new album "Tearing at the Seams". It doesn't have a hot single like SOB though "You Worry Me" is breaking through. It is however a consistently good listen. The songs stay short (usually under five minutes) but build like classic soul. Signing to Stax Records seems appropriately apt. Van Morrison is the name that always comes up in describing Ratliff, and it's hard to think of any closer comparison, though Ratliff never sounds completely indebted. Otis Redding as well, seems to be looking down on the proceedings, but its a very modern rock sound too. To me, I think of the band they spent last summer supporting, Kings of Leon, although reviewers don't seem inclined to pair the two. Surely, both grew up on The Band and CCR.
Anyway, this one is different than what I normally like, but think it's a strong record for 2018.
