“The Future” by Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats perfect a remarkable cross between traditional Americana and southern soul in their newest album, “The Future.”

By: Abby Vela

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats have come back with a fantastic new album, “The Future.” The roots-Americana supergroup brings new life to the traditional acoustics of the genre, and this new record is a perfect example of their expertise.

The album opens with its title track, “The Future,” which sets a very distinct tone for the rest of the record. The track is most like traditional Americana in sound, almost country-esque with the use of slide bar guitar. Yet, it keeps a warmth similar to that of the Southern soul. While the track opens the record with a bang, “The Future” quickly reveals itself to be much more than just Americana.

“The Future” mixes a multitude of styles that, against all odds, make a perfectly cohesive release. The first single, “Survivor,” as well as “So Put Out,” showcase the band’s complex compositions reminiscent of vintage rhythm & blues. 

Songs like “I’m On Your Side” and “Love Don’t” unabashedly feature their brass section, whereas “Something Ain’t Right” and “What If I” tone down some of the instrumentals to really highlight the warm hug that is the lead’s voice (not to mention the fantastic gospel choir backup vocals).

All in all, I could not recommend “The Future” more. This album serves as the perfect amalgamation of all genres that are ever so American in nature. Especially for those who want to expand their listening beyond the acoustics of traditional folk, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats offer a new (or perhaps not-so-new) take on Americana.