REVIEW: Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats “The Future”

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats — The Future

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats’ 3rd studio album, The Future, released Nov. 5, on Stax Records, covers a lot of ground in its 11 songs — and sometimes all in one song.

Recorded at Broken Creek Studio, Rateliff’s studio outside Denver, The Future was produced by Bradley Cook (Bon Iver, Kevin Morby, The War on Drugs) and R.M.B. (Rateliff, Patrick Meese (The Night Sweats) and James Barone (Beach House), the trio behind Rateliff’s solo album, And It’s Still Alright, released in 2020.

From gospel-sounding ballads to a symphonic Motown sound with horns, the diversity of the songs on The Future is wide ranging. Just as diverse is Rateliff’s rich voice, which can both comfort and soothe and urge you out of your seat.

“Is the future open, is the future seen?” Rateliff croons in the opening title track, a catchy Dylan-esque horn-backed ballad that will have you grooving along.

“Survivor,” has a “Rock the Casbah” sounding beat, with urgent horns. In “Face Down In The Moment,” you can feel the ache in its soulful melody and Rateliff’s beautiful vocals as he sings, “Face Down in the moment, waiting to let go.”

“Something Ain’t Right,” has a retro 50-ish sound, followed by “Love Me Till I’m Gone,” another beautiful crooner. Things get a little funky in the slow grooving “Baby I Got Your Number,” and then “So Put Out,” has a great funky horn-backed beat

“Oh, I” has a vintage reggae/mod/ska sound, reminiscent of The Specials or the English Beat.

“Love Don’t” is full of energy and passion, pure Rateliff, with his signature shrieks and a burn-up-the-dance-floor Motown beat.

Additional production on The Future by Elijah Thompson (Father John Misty, Richard Swift). Backing vocals by Jenny Lewis, Jess Wolfe and Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso).

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats are Nathaniel Rateliff (vocals, guitar), Joseph Pope III (bass), Meese (drums, percussion, keys), Luke Mossman (guitar), Mark Shusterman (organ, keys), Andreas Wild (saxophone), Daniel Hardaway (trumpet) and Jeff Dazey (saxophone).

Tour dates and music here: https://www.nathanielrateliff.com