By Rube Ambler
This one came to the mailbox in an envelope marked Merrill Lynch, 2 World Financial Center, New York, New York. Knowing precisely where that building stands in downtown Manhattan, I have to admit I was a bit surprised at what I heard when I stuffed this CD into the slot in the dash of my car. What emerged from the speakers was pure Nashville. I took it in for a couple of tracks expecting a change, the now severely clichéd indie twist, but it never came. It was around track four, “Brand New Neighbors,” that I picked up the CD case and noticed that much of Riley Etheridge, Jr.’s new album, Things I Used to Know
What does all that mean for you as a listener? Well, when I think of Nashville, I tend to think of the town in terms of songwriters not the scene. Much of what you might find on contemporary country radio doesn’t appeal to me. This is not that. However, it also is not retro country either. To this credit, Riley is not trying to cop the best of Waylon, Willie and the Boys. Instead he is writing solid country music in the vein of Radney Foster, Billy Joe Shaver, or maybe even Uncle Tupelo. It’s mid-tempo, largely acoustic and sentimental as hell – but it all works quite well in that space. Favorites for me are the title track “Things I Used to Know”, “Nothing I Could Say” and “In The City.” For a boy that’s sitting on the 40th floor of a giant glass tower overlooking the harbor formed by the Hudson and the East, he’s got some roots in him. A recommended listen for fans of the genre and much better than most of the country music I’ve heard recently.
Riley Etheridge, Jr. – Things I Used To Know
Riley Etheridge, Jr. – In The City
I love it!
Thanks for this. Lead me to Riley Etheridge Jr. song “Brand New Neighbors”. . .love it too.