Denver, CO. based singer and songwriter, Nathaniel Rateliff, has returned to announce the release of his solo album, And It’s Still Alright, on Feb. 14, 2020, 7-year after his previous release, Falling Faster Than You Can Run. His title track, “And It’s Still Alright,” is currently available to stream on all platforms, and was performed on Jan. 8, 2020 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
As his title track begins, a calming strum echoes, as he plucks sincere melody. Rateliff starts singing, and the passion is evident in his voice.
“Times are hard, you get this far, but it ain’t the way that you want,” Rateliff sings. “I’ll be damned if this old man don’t start to counting his losses, but it’s still alright.”
A slight synth picks up at the half-way point of the song. A dreamy electric guitar enters the scene to play a couple of verses. It enhances the synth, and sets the tone of the ending of the song. The strumming of the guitar resonates, as the song gently fades away.
“It ain’t alright, you keep spinning out ahead,” he sings.
When asked about his title-track, Rateliff explains how it was written in honor of his late friend Richard Swift, who recorded two albums for Rateliff’s band, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats’.
“I think I always want to see hope in the darkness, and I like to try to share that,” Rateliff said. “I always try to write from a perspective of trying to approach everything very honestly, even if it leaves me vulnerable.”
He continues to explain how he believes this album is a reminder that all people go through hardships, but regardless of the hardship, everything ends up where it’s supposed to go. He concludes his statement by mentioning he pushed his limits and found new depths in his songwriting, to finish off the album.
“I still continue to live, and I still continue to find joy,” says Rateliff. “I think that’s the theme of the record.”
Rateliff will be kicking off on his And It’s Still Alright Tour, on Feb. 1, 2020, in Ann Arbor, MI, at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival. Tickets can be purchased at Rateliff’s website.
And It’s Still Alight Track List:
1. What a Drag
2. And It’s Still Alright
3. All Or Nothing
4. Expecting To Lose
5. Tonight #2
6. Mavis
7. You Need Me
8. Time Stands
9. Kissing Our Friends
10. Rush On
AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT TOUR:
02/01 — Ann Arbor, MI — Ann Arbor Folk Festival
03/03 — Minneapolis, MN — State Theatre
03/04 — Minneapolis, MN — State Theatre
03/05 — Milwaukee, WI — Riverside Theater
03/06 — Chicago, IL — The Chicago Theatre†
03/08 — Toronto, ON — Roy Thomson Hall
03/10 — Boston, MA — Orpheum Theatre
03/12 — New York, NY — The Town Hall
03/13 — New York, NY — The Town Hall
03/14 — Washington DC — The Anthem
03/16 — Pittsburgh, PA — Byham Theater
03/17 — Indianapolis, IN — Old National Centre
03/19 — St. Louis, MO — Stifel Theatre
03/20 — Nashville, TN — Ryman Auditorium
03/21 — Atlanta, GA — Tabernacle
04/02 — Los Angeles, CA — The Theatre at Ace Hotel
04/03 — Los Angeles, CA — The Theatre At The Ace Hotel
04/04 — San Francisco, CA — Palace Of Fine Arts
04/05 — San Francisco, CA — Palace Of Fine Arts
04/18 — North Charleston, SC — High Water Fest
08/26 — Morrison, CO — Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Photo Credit:Kalyn Oyer