Tyler Childers/Rustin’ in the Rain/RCA/Hickman Holler Records
3.5 Out of Five Stars
Videos by American Songwriter
Tyler Childers is an emotive singer and with his latest outing, Rustin’ in the Rain, he proves the point decidedly. Produced by Childers and his backing band The Food Stamps—James Barker (pedal steel), Craig Burletic (bass), CJ Cain (guitar), Rodney Elkins (drums), Chase Lewis (keyboards), and Jesse Wells (guitar, fiddle)—it’s an emphatic set of songs, one that takes the young singer into a new dimension as far as his expressive ability is concerned.
The follow-up to his widely acclaimed previous triple album, last year’s Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? it shares a varied array of styles, from the upbeat title track which opens the album, to the classic country of “Phone Calls and Emails” as well as his emotive take on the Kris Kristofferson classic, “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” While the latter may seem somewhat superfluous at first—given the fact that’s such a well-trod standard—Childers’ natural affinity for the song and his own well-worn delivery make it a logical choice. Indeed, Childers seems a natural as far as a vintage pedigree is concerned, and whether he opts for the honky tonk revelry of a song like “Percheron Mules” or one of heartfelt devotion such as “Space and Time,” the authenticity is all but assured.
Ultimately, Childers is something of a rarity these days, an artist whose affinity for classic country music is bereft of the gimmickry and frat-boy triviality that marks so much of what passes as contemporary country music these days. I have gee’d and haw’d, myself into a tizzy, he insists in the opening line of the title track. I am yearning for the turning in the most peculiar way.
That desire surfaces in any number of ways, from the lovelorn balladry of “In Your Love” to the invocation of “Luke 2:8-10,” a gospel-infused example of pure reverence and devotion. The set list is only seven songs long, but the sheer depth of what’s contained herein is as remarkable as it is revealing.
Don’t miss the chance to witness Tyler Childers in action! Book your tickets now and be part of an authentic musical experience at the Tyler Childers Tour.
Photo by Gary Miller/WireImage for Shock Ink
