Say hello to Bob Russell, a proficient guitar player, singer, and songwriter creating music inspired by the greatest rock bands of the ‘60s and ‘70s. And along with a formal and friendly greeting, Bob treated us to the track “Heaven Can Wait” – it’s the very first and eponymous song from his latest four-song EP. Does “Heaven Can Wait” lean into the very American, British, and blues-tinged rock that galvanizes Russell’s music making? Let’s talk about it.
What does it sound like?
It’s a slow, bluesy number kicking off with wailing sax and some familiar, mournful blues progressions. It’s music for the downtrodden, painfully self-aware, and comically hopeful.
And there are nice, gravelly electric guitar staccatos placing their punctuating stakes in each and every beat – like bursts of disgruntled energy amidst life’s mostly slow-trotting malaise.
And let’s not forget the subtle organ that slides in during the second half; it adds a more robust aural spectrum, granting the song a bit more….oomph? Not power, necessarily, but it broadens its musical shoulders.
What we’re digging….
Bob’s voice is subtle, fragile, and perfectly raspy. It beautifully captures the struggles conveyed by this brand of playfully lamenting music.
And when the song ends, it gently, respectfully peters out; like it had its say, perhaps exhausted itself, and simply wants a quiet and unattended exit.
But is it good?
“Heaven Can Wait” carries the blues respectfully, and with an undercurrent of rock and roll’s barreling urgency. If you want to hear something elegant with a bite – something genuinely emotional, perfectly played, and expertly produced (because sonically, it’s clean as can be) – you’re going to love the latest song, and the latest EP, from Arizona-based musician Bob Russell.
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BELOW: Listen to Bob Russell and check him out on Bandcamp. Please support Bob Russell by visiting him online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing his music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.
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