Album Review: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - Tearing At The Seams

Following an extended period of time on the road, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats assembled in Rodeo, New Mexico to create their album Tearing At The Seams.

From its initial moments, single You Worry Me marks itself as a winner. A rejuvenating piano pulse that lifts you up into Rateliff's iconic Americana vocal tone contrasts the gritty electric guitar beats and whomping bassline, allowing the track to develop into the full-bodied, wall of sound it so deserves to be.

Hey Mama relays a relatable story told through honest vocals over an understated acoustic guitar coupled with an electric slide. The collective's gradual build and sudden release in texture allows you to understand and embody the emotion, then release and accept it.

The closing title track presents chugging guitar via a classic '60s soul progression matched with hollow drums that supply your ears with what they crave. The undulating influx of passion dips just as Rateliff's voice enters, allowing room for its manifestation.

This album draws you in and it makes you feel a part of the experience - the hurt, the joy, even the creation of the music itself. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats have successfully managed to capture both the unbelievable energy and unadulterated emotion of their live performances, and channel this into a thoughtful, soulful album they should be proud of.