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Early James released his first album, Singing for My Supper, just as the world slid into the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, so if any singer/songwriter has cause to claim that it's a Strange Time to Be Alive -- the pointed title of his second album -- it's him. To his credit, he winds up delivering on the promise of his title, conjuring ghosts of the American South with his stylized soul and poetry -- a combination that can suggest Tom Waits in his beatnik poet prime crossed with a blues troubadour. This heightened Americana is quite appealing, especially in the hands of producer Dan Auerbach, who lets the ballads be painterly and gives the shambling numbers a colorful quality, letting Early James growl against guitar grit and thickened thump in the rhythms. At nearly an hour, Strange Time to Be Alive does indeed have a tendency to wander and linger, a characteristic that can be mildly maddening but also is ingratiatingly eccentric. Perhaps Early James can recall such inspirations as Waits, but the way he assembles American myths and music has an idiosyncratic signature that only sounds stronger and more authoritative with repeat listens.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Sam Bacco, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Smith, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Bellerose, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Rojas, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Pahl, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Auerbach, Producer, Mixer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Caleb VanBuskirk, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Allen Parker, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - McKinley James, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Early James, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Zwiep, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Adrian Marmolejo, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Ulman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fredrick James Mullis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 Easy Eye Sound
Sam Bacco, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Smith, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Bellerose, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Bukovac, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Rojas, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Pahl, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Auerbach, Producer, Mixer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Caleb VanBuskirk, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Allen Parker, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - McKinley James, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Early James, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Zwiep, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Adrian Marmolejo, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Ulman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fredrick James Mullis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 Easy Eye Sound
Sam Bacco, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Smith, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Bellerose, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Rojas, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Pahl, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Auerbach, Producer, Mixer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Caleb VanBuskirk, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Allen Parker, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - McKinley James, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Early James, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Zwiep, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Adrian Marmolejo, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Ulman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fredrick James Mullis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 Easy Eye Sound
Sam Bacco, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Smith, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Bellerose, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Rojas, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Pahl, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Auerbach, Producer, Mixer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Caleb VanBuskirk, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Allen Parker, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - McKinley James, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Early James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Zwiep, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Adrian Marmolejo, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Ulman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fredrick James Mullis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 Easy Eye Sound
Rob Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Ryan Smith, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Bellerose, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Bukovac, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Rojas, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Pahl, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Auerbach, Producer, Mixer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Austin Jenkins, ComposerLyricist - Caleb VanBuskirk, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Allen Parker, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - McKinley James, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Early James, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Zwiep, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Adrian Marmolejo, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Ulman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fredrick James Mullis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 Easy Eye Sound
Sam Bacco, Percussion, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Smith, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Bellerose, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Rojas, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Pahl, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Auerbach, Producer, Mixer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Caleb VanBuskirk, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Allen Parker, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - McKinley James, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Early James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sierra Ferrell, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tyler Zwiep, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Adrian Marmolejo, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Ulman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fredrick James Mullis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 Easy Eye Sound
Sam Bacco, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Krasno, ComposerLyricist - Ryan Smith, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Bellerose, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Bukovac, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Rojas, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Pahl, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Auerbach, Producer, Mixer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Caleb VanBuskirk, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Allen Parker, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - McKinley James, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Early James, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Zwiep, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Adrian Marmolejo, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Ulman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fredrick James Mullis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 Easy Eye Sound
Sam Bacco, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Smith, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Bellerose, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Rojas, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Pahl, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Auerbach, Producer, Mixer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Caleb VanBuskirk, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Allen Parker, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - McKinley James, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Early James, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Zwiep, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Adrian Marmolejo, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Ulman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fredrick James Mullis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 Easy Eye Sound
Sam Bacco, Percussion, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Smith, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Bellerose, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Bukovac, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Rojas, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Pahl, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Auerbach, Producer, Mixer, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Austin Jenkins, ComposerLyricist - Caleb VanBuskirk, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Allen Parker, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - McKinley James, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Early James, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Zwiep, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Adrian Marmolejo, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Ulman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fredrick James Mullis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 Easy Eye Sound
Ryan Smith, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Auerbach, Producer, Mixer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Caleb VanBuskirk, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Allen Parker, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - McKinley James, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Early James, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Zwiep, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Adrian Marmolejo, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Ulman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fredrick James Mullis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 Easy Eye Sound
Sam Bacco, Percussion, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Smith, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Bellerose, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Rojas, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Pahl, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Auerbach, Producer, Mixer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Greg Cartwright, ComposerLyricist - Caleb VanBuskirk, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Allen Parker, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - McKinley James, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Early James, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Zwiep, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Adrian Marmolejo, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Ulman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fredrick James Mullis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 Easy Eye Sound
Ryan Smith, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay Bellerose, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Rojas, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Pahl, Electric Guitar, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Auerbach, Producer, Mixer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Caleb VanBuskirk, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Allen Parker, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - McKinley James, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Early James, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Zwiep, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Adrian Marmolejo, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jonny Ulman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fredrick James Mullis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2022 Easy Eye Sound
Album review
Early James released his first album, Singing for My Supper, just as the world slid into the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, so if any singer/songwriter has cause to claim that it's a Strange Time to Be Alive -- the pointed title of his second album -- it's him. To his credit, he winds up delivering on the promise of his title, conjuring ghosts of the American South with his stylized soul and poetry -- a combination that can suggest Tom Waits in his beatnik poet prime crossed with a blues troubadour. This heightened Americana is quite appealing, especially in the hands of producer Dan Auerbach, who lets the ballads be painterly and gives the shambling numbers a colorful quality, letting Early James growl against guitar grit and thickened thump in the rhythms. At nearly an hour, Strange Time to Be Alive does indeed have a tendency to wander and linger, a characteristic that can be mildly maddening but also is ingratiatingly eccentric. Perhaps Early James can recall such inspirations as Waits, but the way he assembles American myths and music has an idiosyncratic signature that only sounds stronger and more authoritative with repeat listens.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:44:16
- Main artists: Early James
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Easy Eye Sound
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2022 Easy Eye Sound ℗ 2022 Easy Eye Sound
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