Description
Nathaniel Rateliff has written and recorded his first solo record since the explosive debut of his work together with The Night Sweats.nbsp And Itrsquos Still Alright, is an intensely personal 10song album of vibrant countryblues, badland ballads, ornate Americana and jazzinflected RampB. Rateliffrsquos warm baritone, ranging from gently hushed to a guttural howl, imbues these superbly drawn character studies with raw, naked emotion.And Itrsquos Still Alright was produced by Rateliff, Night Sweatsrsquo drummer Patrick Meese and James Barone of the indie band, Beach House and primarily recorded at National Freedom in Cottage Grove, Oregon, the studio formerly owned by the late Richard Swift who produced both Night Sweats recordings. While Rateliff, Meese and Barone handled much of the albumrsquos instrumentation, several friends make contributions including Night Sweatsrsquo guitarist Luke Mossman bassist Elijah Thomson of the indie band Everest keyboardist Daniel Creamer of The Texas Gentlemen steel guitarist Eric Swanson touring musician for Israel Nash and renowned string arranger Tom Hagerman of the instrumental vocal ensemble DeVotchKa, whose delicate orchestrations beautifully complement the albumrsquos deep emotional terrain.And Itrsquos Still Alrightrsquos many highlights include album opener ldquoWhat A Drag,rdquo which sketches a vivid portrait of a disconnected relationship, ldquoTonight 2,rdquo a haunting, endoftheworld waltz, ldquoTime Stands,rdquo detailing an epic, desperate struggle for love and the elegiac Rush On, a heartbreaking requiem for Swift.Unguarded and unflinchingly real, Nathaniel Rateliffrsquos And Itrsquos Still Alright expands on the sounds and styles hersquos used to great affect across both his band and solo careers.