Rodney Crowell - The Chicago Sessions (CD)

Details: 2023 release. Says Rodney Crowell: "It's just me and the band in a room together, loose and live and having fun." Produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, The Chicago Sessions is indeed a throwback to Crowell's early days of making records, but it's no nostalgia trip. The songs here are vital and timely, touching on everything from love and mortality to race and religion, and the performances are nothing short of intoxicating, fueled by raw guitars, honky-tonk piano, and tight, punchy drums. Tweedy wields a light touch as a producer, his influence subtle yet unmistakable, and engineer Tom Schick's mixes are dynamic and alive, alternately lush and spacious in all the right places with a spotlight fixed firmly on Crowell's warm, weathered vocals throughout. Put it all together and you've got a masterful, cross-generational collaboration that manages to feel both fresh and familiar all at once, an incisive, engaging collection that balances careful craftsmanship with joyful liberation at every turn."

Tracklist:

1. Everything at Once
2. Oh Miss Claudia
3. Lucky
4. Ready to Move on
5. Somebody Loves You
6. No Place to Fall
7. Making Lovers Out of Friends
8. Loving You Is the Only Way to Fly
9. You're Supposed to Be Feeling Good
10. Ever the Dark