By Phillip Smith; Aug. 25, 2019
Good Life, the latest from Texas
singer/songwriter Seth James
captivated me from the beginning. Sitting
in that same wheelhouse of music which encompasses the songs of John Hiatt and Delbert
McClinton, this album is a bowlful of soulful Americana. James,
on guitar and lead vocals is joined by Bob Britt
on rhythm and slide guitar, Lynn Williams
on drums, Kevin McKendree
on keys, Steve Macket
on bass, Jim Hoke on saxophone, Roy Agee on trombone, and Vinnie
Ciesielski on trumpet. The
cover art from Paul Thorn
is a blast too. I can’t help but smile
when it catches my eye.
Title track, “Good Life”, is a wonderfully soulful tune
with a spirited and catchy hook to jam out to.
I love the Memphis Stax-style
delivery the band packs into “Little Angel”.
James’ impassioned words in
this love-letter are moving and heartfelt.
For anyone who’s spent any amount of time away from their home and loved
ones, “I’m Coming Home” beautifully expresses the joy-filled anticipation of
returning to roost in one’s own abode. I
love “Medicine Man”. It’s fun and funky
rhythm is topped with a wily guitar riff, and slathered barrelhouse-friendly
keys. The stand-out song on this disc,
however is “Third Generation”. In this terrific
selection, James takes an intelligent look at how the wealth created through
hard work in one generation, is carelessly dismantled and thrown away by the
third.
Good Life is a splendid mix of roots,
blues, soul, and country, culminating into one fantastic album. I highly recommend it.
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For more information about the artist, visit this
website.. www.sethjames.com
