Review Summary: Summer made easy
One of the best experiences when listening to new music is hitting a certain eureka moment. A few songs into Micah Edwards’
Texas Soul I had the realization that this was a really damn good record. As one might suspect judging from the album title Edwards is indeed from Texas, specifically Houston, and over the course of 56 minutes he guides the listener on a tour de force of the Lone Star’s musical roots and modern inclinations. Fans of country, soul, R&B and blues will all have ample servings of their favorite musical flavors.
Starting with some swaggering country cuts on “Texas Soul” and “River Man” the album quickly moves onto the dirt-stomping blues of “Sin” and the laid-back island vibes of “You Do (I Do).” It offers a strong start to the album before launching into a midsection replete with the expertly crafted R&B, soul and laid back country that Edwards is known for. So much so that he’s earned the nickname Mr. Texas Soul. From the winding horns of “Andrea” to the cumbia-inspired “Love Sincere,” the dreamy bop of “Take Me There” or the restrained strings on “The Mender,” this album is a joy listening to.
While the instrumentals here are varied, lush and textured and include generous portions of piano, acoustic and electric guitars, organs and fiddle, it’s Edwards’ voice that really carries the day. Able to effortlessly launch into crystal clear mountaintop falsettos or swoop low into dusky baritones, the vocal performance on
Texas Soul never misses or falters. In fact, there’s really not much on this record I can criticize. Perhaps the silky midsection goes on a bit too long, or a song here or there maybe feels a bit too made-for-radio (“Partner in Crime” comes to mind) but none of it is bad, or even less than excellent, really. It also marks a true sophomore shine for Edwards. While his 2022 debut
Jean Leon is great,
Texas Soul marks a huge step forward in every aspect of Edwards’ sound.
It’s already been a bumper year for Texas country. Be it this record, Charley Crockett’s
Clovis, Flatland Cavalry’s
Work of Heart or Kasey Musgrave’s
Middle Of Nowhere the Lone Star State continues to pump out strong and varied musicians. I have a feeling this slice of Texas country will be on heavy rotation for me through the dog days of summer and beyond.
