Posted on: March 17, 2020 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

The bulk of Sam Doores self-titled solo debut may have been recorded in Berlin and Nashville, but he certainly didn’t leave behind his native New Orleans influences while he crossed the globe. The 13-track record may be Southern roots at its core, but it’s covered in swampy organ, laid back R&B and tinges of gospel and psychedelic music.     

Best known for his time in Hurray for the Riff Raff and more recently The Deslondes, this solo record is not a huge step away from the music that he worked on with the latter, just a natural progression with a slightly stripped down sound.

Among the musicians Doores namechecks is the sadly underrated Blaze Foley and you can see why; Both write strongly personal, but relatable songs that manage to transcend genre and ignore current musical trends. The LP manages to come across as era agnostic, with songs like “Other Side Of Town,” with its horns and girl group-reminiscent back-up singers, Doctor Hook-like funk on “Wish You Well” and flourishes of psychedelia throughout, all making for a remarkably timeless and extraordinarily fun album.

Sam Doores – Self-Titled/13 tracks/New West Records/2020

Leave a Comment