Just as March drew to a close, the Midwest-based Americana / rock band The Willing dropped their long-awaited fifth studio album – This Is Our Life – the quintet’s first LP since 2021’s “Full Circle.” Packing fourteen songs into 55 minutes, this record brings crisp and old school rock aesthetics back in fashion for a new generation, and we can’t wait to spread the word.
The title track “This Is Our Life” opens this album; a fresh take on the retro, carried by a timeless feel-good atmosphere. We love a record with a sunny start, and The Willing delivers this perfectly, uplifting listeners from the very first beat.
“When The Heartache’s Gone” takes a smoky turn, stacking vocals with vibrato and layering blues-rock guitars with piano riffs; themes which run through every ballad, including stand-out track, “Got To Shake The Feeling.” Under the bittersweet taste of the band’s break-up lyrics is a mood of finding comfort in the past before moving on for good. And The Willing certainly do, following their initial ‘60s style heartbreak hit with a track which picks up hints of soft and leather-clad ‘80s rock, synths and all: “More Time.”
As This Is Our Life reaches its second half, “Keep On Believing” captures the mood of a summer evening’s anthem; “Girl At The Fair” that of a cinematic soundtrack and a Beatles hit all wrapped up in one; while album closer, “I’ll Still Love You” manifests like an unearthed track by The Carpenters.
Between acoustic jams with a country flair, organs which ring out majestic prog rock tones, and glimmers of harmonicas and Indian sitars, The Willing prove they’re not afraid to experiment, tapestrying intriguing oddities into their base colours to craft a record which keeps you on your toes, while still locking fans safe within the norms of good old, vintage-inspired rock. It’s a perfect balance of cohesion and attitude, tied together by a sleek, pro finish.
If you’re a fan of Eric Clapton, The Mamas and the Papas, Fleetwood Mac, and soft rock artists within that space, The Willing is the next big band for you. And we promise that after a few listens, you’ll be singing along to their lyrics as if these new tracks have been with you for a lifetime.
If you’ve only just discovered this band, you might be surprised to find that The Willing aren’t your usual modern Americana set-up, but come with a rich slice of history rooting them to the heart of their nostalgic sound. The Willing have been active since the 1970s, albeit rebranding from their previous band name, Ultima Thule, meaning their flashback sound isn’t just a mimicry of eras that have long since passed, but is a pure resurrection of a band whose sound has been fuelling the genre since its start. They’ve been there, done that, and are doing it again with an intimate knowledge and deathless love for all things classic.
Our final verdict? Recommended.
BELOW: Listen to The Willing and check out their music online. Please support The Willing by visiting their website and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.
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