Unparalleled soul, jazz and so much more

Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweat’s latest album, What If I, is a soulful exploration that simply does not disappoint. This delightful exploration of sound is Rateliff’s latest triumph, flawlessly enmeshing a myriad of genres and wrapping them up in one epic package. 

“Buy My Round” immediately evokes all the feelings of a retro summer day, the music light, airy and a welcome reprieve from some of today’s more jarring sounds. The tune is upbeat and catchy and it’s obvious from the album’s inception that Rateliff has taken expert care when cultivating it. As the song concludes, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” saunters in, a modern-day nod to Willie Nelson’s authentic sound. Since this track was recorded live, it’s that much more powerful — Rateliff is just as compelling when playing live as he is in a recording studio and this song is nothing short of a testament to his talent.

“What If I,” the album’s title track (and the Cook Brothers version), opens up with a beautiful piano solo before Rateliff trades traditional percussion for something more subtle — clapping, of all things. And it’s brilliant. As his warm vocals and soul-stirring vibrato enmesh seamlessly with the cascading piano, it becomes increasingly obvious that Rateliff and his unstoppable ensemble have more than a few tricks up their sleeves. 

The entire album is a glimpse into the mind behind the music, with vocals written in ordinary prose. There are sounds that evoke Randy Newman, with “That’s Your Opinion” reminding fans that Rateliff is no stranger to exploring scores of sound and that he’s capable of transcending genres, holding the interest of music aficionados across the board. 

“Slow Pace of Time” offers another gentle experience, with subdued percussion that adds a bit of flair to this jazz-inspired track. Rateliff focuses less on his velvety vocals and delivers a bit more of a spoken-lyric performance, providing plenty of room for the background instrumentals to truly shine. And shine they do, with visions of Louis Armstrong himself, foot tapping in the distance, nodding in approval. 

Just when you think you have Rateliff figured out, “Suffer Me” veers off in yet another direction, the music still soulful and jazzy but so much more. This is a fun track that showcases yet another side of Rateliff’s versatility. It’s sprightly and incorporates punchy guitar riffs with plenty of grunge-era distortion to remind people that Rateliff cannot — will not — be defined by one genre alone. But the album isn’t done yet. 

“What If I” plays one more time, this time delivering a punchier sound that invokes all the Elvin Bishop feels. In short, there’s nothing Rateliff and his incredibly talented team of musicians can’t accomplish. It doesn’t matter what listeners are craving — What If I satiates all their needs and then some.