Singer-songwriter Riley Etheridge, Jr., whose intellectual lyrics and talk singing style is a combination of Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt, added some soul to the mix for his fourth album The Straight and Narrow Way. Etheridge also wisely enlisted long-time Neville Brothers and Dr. John sideman, guitarist Shane Theriot, to be his producer and co-songwriter. The result is a much more freewheeling, up-tempo set of tunes from the NYC-based artist who has been carrying the smart Americana torch for some time.
Also added to the mix are three different rhythm sections, a New Orleans horn section, and guest vocalist Sara Watkins from the neo-bluegrass group Nickel Creek. The pair sings together on the haunting break-up song “Another Time and Another Place,” and the album’s only true country song, the lovely waltz “The Maze.” The latter features some high lonesome pedal steel from Dan Dugmore trading lines with Watkins’s violin, a real highlight that begs the question, “Why aren’t these folks on country radio?” Theriot’s influence is most felt on the swampy “Roll Away The Stone,” the French Quarter-infected gospel funk song “Even As We Fall,” and the hard rocking title track with it’s in-your-face guitar.
Legendary drummer Jim Keltner appears on four tracks, adding super smooth fills to the studio pop ballad “Second Chance, Saving Grace.” He lifts Etheridge’s love song to the Big Apple, “She’s Only In New York,” with one of his patented confounding, time-twisting rhythms under cool grooves. Former Allman Brother Johnny Neel adds some greasy harmonica to the classic, cookin’ R&B party track “Down To My Last Twenty Dollars,” and that ends the album with style.
Originally published at innocent Words April 30.2014
– See more at: http://innocentwords.com/riley-etheridge-jr-the-straight-and-narrow-way/#sthash.3x0c6aYE.dpuf
http://www.rockridgemusic.com/rileyetheridge/
Rick J Bowen
