The band Wreckless Strangers sound like they hail from the deepest American South rather than Southern California’s sunny climes. The band name, particularly “strangers”, and location immediately recalled Merle Haggard’s seminal and longtime accompaniment The Strangers, but this six-piece doesn’t make music anything like that. Their brand of “California Americana Soul” is the end result of six superb musicians, friends and area session players, coming together with top-shelf material that echoes the past without ever imitating it.
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Their latest single from the upcoming debut album When the Sun and a Blue Star Collide is a slide-guitar driven blues entitled “You Just Hurt” and should satisfy anyone who loves the form. The band members come by this sound honestly, it is no contrivance. The long pedigrees of the band’s six members are studded with countless music luminaries, not fly by night bargain basement wonders, and the Wreckless Strangers learned their lessons well. It gives “You Just Hurt” and other songs the feeling of a loose master class on ensemble Americana.
The introduction runs a little long. It’s easy to hear what Wreckless Strangers are after, the slide guitar accumulating more fire as the seconds tick off, but condensing the build-up gives it more impact. There’s no doubt Wreckless Strangers want to convey a “we mean business” attitude during this performance while still pushing a thoughtful message but, as much as they pare the arrangement down with great effect, they could have cut just a little more.
It’s far from a fatal blow. Hearing what an artist or band is going after from note one is, in and of itself, an increasingly unique blessing. Wreckless Strangers have no interest in being coy or self-indulgent. “You Just Hurt” has no artifice to speak of and it’s a pleasure for fans of the style to hear talented musicians dig their heels into the blues without apologizing in some way. There are no audible gimmicks as well. Wreckless Strangers’ music sells itself.
You can hear why in the words. David Noble sings about everyday life with unabashed vulnerability, but the song’s message isn’t mired in despair. It’s a song for survivors of every form and, despite the hard times it explores, strikes an ultimately hopeful note. Its existence alone is reaching for redemption.
These musicians are far past the point in their careers where they are willing to waste listener’s time – or their own. “You Just Hurt” barely breaks the four-minute mark and the band doesn’t fill those minutes with meaningless frills but, instead, meat and potatoes blues. California Americana Soul, indeed. There’s plenty of soul leaping out from the track. This review, however, would be remiss without mentioning the contributions of Grammy winner Colin Linden. Linden’s time working with artists such as Emmylou Harris, Keb’ Mo, and Bob Dylan, among others, informs his production work on “You Just Hurt” and helps elevate an already fine track even higher. It’s a safe bet that this magical team has put together one of 2022’s best albums with When the Sun and a Blue Star Collides.
Chadwick Easton