IN REVIEW: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - "Tearing At the Seams"

History may try to sum up Nathaniel Rateliff as the guy who performed S.O.B., the rollicking, boozy smash hit from 2015; of course, those of us who have dug deeper have discovered Rateliff is an accomplished singer/songwriter who shouldn't have a career distilled (pun intended) down to a somewhat silly novelty hit. Alongside backing band The Night Sweats, Rateliff has built much of his following on vibrant songs that are indebted to soul and old time rock n' roll, and his music evokes a spirit not often captured by modern artists.

Tearing At the Seams, Rateliff's second album with The Night Sweats (and fifth album overall), has a livelier, smokier feel than we're used to. This album boasts thick grooves, impassioned vocal performances and sharp songwriting, all elements of Rateliff's past work to be sure but this time presented with a fuller sound and more colour. Put another way, it's more indicative of the band's live show, which has never been a bad thing for any band.

It's also packed with quality tunes and tasteful arrangements that provide ebb and flow, and its sequencing ensures that the album's worth listening to front to back; there's very little that can be considered filler, and there's enough variety on display to hold interest (even through the two bonus tracks on the deluxe edition). That said, as pleasant as these songs are, there's nothing that separates itself as a clear hit; lead singles You Worry Me and Hey Mama are very good, to be sure, but there's precious little crossover potential to be had in them.

That's likely intentional and perfectly acceptable, though, because the trade-off is novelty for quality. Tearing At the Seams is a well-crafted album that builds upon the thrills that fans have found in those deep album cuts, resulting in a fuller experience that does its damnedest to prove that Rateliff has much more to offer than his breakout hit would have indicated to casual observers.

March 9, 2018 • Stax
Highlights Shoe Boot • Hey Mama • Tearing At the Seams