Having teamed up with Black Keys frontman Dan Auberbach for the last two albums, on his new one Mood Swings (American Recordings/Republic Records/Snakefarm Records) Marcus King is helped out by producer extraordinaire Rick Rubin. Gone is the seventies, bluesy Rock N’ Roll of the previous record Young Blood, in its place is R&B, Soul, Jazz, Pop and Classic Rock influences with King’s smokey, bluesman vocals taking centre stage.
The result is a free-flowing record with a soulful sound backed up by confessional, heart-wrenching lyrics. This, his sixth album, varies in style but it never feels incongruous. The title track greets us with a tale of struggling with depression, driven by an electronic drum beat and some minimalist but loose guitar over the top. “Hero” serves up a delightfully easygoing mix of soul and folk, helped greatly by Mr. Rubin’s rich production. A piano-led Classic Rock ballad, with a touch of Eric Clapton about it, is warmly welcomed in the loved-up “Delilah.” Whereas “Me or Tennessee” is an exuberant nugget of church-going, throw your hands in the air blues, with its gospel overtones, and infectious sense of life.
The songs are well crafted and give space for the melodies to breathe – like the minimalist, lounge Jazz stylings of “Soul Me,” complete with a smooth-as-silk guitar solo. This stripped-back nature benefits the velvety, R&B-kissed Pop of “Inglewood Motel (Halestorm),” its relaxed nature and cosy sound easily winning you over. The melancholic moments are full of deft touches as well, like the hypnotic drum beat, understated keys, and swelling strings of the heartbroken “Fuck My Life Up Again.” By the end of the record though, and after the likes of easy listening, poppy ballad “Bipolar Love,” you feel that it could do with some of Young Blood’s fire and crackle to balance it out a bit.
Mood Swings is a luxuriously produced effort, that merges its multitude of influences into one satin-soft collection of soul music.
Buy the album here:
https://marcusking.lnk.to/MoodSwings
8 / 10
THOMAS THROWER