19. April 2025
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Media Review

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – South of Here

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats - South of Here

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats - South of Here
4.2

Rating

 4.2/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Good storytelling
  • Nice balancing of instruments and vocals
  • Good range of songs

28th June 2024 features a new release by Nathaniel Rateliff. The singer-songwriter is sharing a new album with the Night Sweats on that day. I already had a listen to South of Here and share my thoughts with you.

 

Nathaniel Rateliff – About The Artist

Nathaniel Rateliff is an US-American musician. He worked in several genres, from soul and gospel to blues rock and cowpunk. Born on 7th October 1978, he turned into a professional musician in 2002. Apart from working with the Night Sweats, he also released solo albums. Additionally, he worked as Nathaniel Rateliff & the Wheel from 2007 to 2014. His most successful solo album was the 2020 And It’s Still Alright, which also made it to the Top 10 of the Netherlands. South of Here is his fourth album with the Night Sweats, the last one being The Future in 2021. With that band, he also released two EPs. I featured one of them, What If I, in 2023.

 

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – South of Here – Track by Track

The eleven song album lasts 37 minutes.

1. David and Goliath

The album opens with some piano tunes, before the David and Goliath turns into an Americana rocker with a rough heart. The piano and the hard guitar chords drive this opener.

2. Heartless

Heartless does not only sound like a more emotional listen by its title – the second song is indeed more gentle than the opener. The song has a fine melody and even strikes more with his lovely storytelling.

3. Remember I Was a Dancer

Say Baby… could you pick me up and spin me around
Say Baby.. maybe I’ll remember how to smile
Say Baby… we can make it up as we go

The third song is another rather slow track, which comes with really nice and gentle vibes. Nathaniel Rateliff is having a really gentle voice in this song, which turns Remember I Was a Dancer into a lovely listen.

4. Get Used to the Night

Being released three weeks before the album, Get Used to the Night has been the last feature single of South of Here. In fact, it is also the last single release in the order of the album. The song has a more intense touch, also because the brass sounds increase the energy of this one.

5. South of Here

The title track of the album is the fifth one. The main theme is presented by the piano right at the beginning. I especially like the chorus of the song, which overall comes with a nice country and folk touch.

Then I would have to move away
Maybe south of here they’d let us be
And I would have to just move on
And maybe go back home remember who I was

6. Everybody Wants Something

With Everybody Wants Something, Nathaniel Rateliff and his musicians add another fine melody. There is a touch of Lukas Nelson in the air in these songs. They also strike with a nice balance of guitar and piano sounds.

7. Center of Me

The acoustic guitar at the beginning of Center of Me has a bit of a harp. The song has a ballad sound, but is full of struggle, like in Every night I was scared and proud, sitting in a hotel trying to write a dream. Nonetheless, being able to listen to this song feels like a gift. Lovely one.

8. Cars in the Desert

Tell me I’m a good man is the key phrase of the eighth song, which is describing a road trip scene. Another really nice song, in which piano, guitar and sax create a lovely synergy. Lovely one.

9. I Would Like to Heal

The ninth song comes with a nicely swaying rhythm. This makes the song feel a bit more simple, but it is also leading to a nice focus on the vocals and the story. I really enjoy listening to this special song.

10. Call Me (Whatever You Like)

Well they told me they told me that you ain’t got friends
and I’m staring around the room and I’m the only one that’s left
It’s a wonder… It’s wonder you come out ahead
In a moment thought for sure I’d come out dead

Call Me (Whatever You Like) is another surprise. The song feels like an indie-rocker with an agile rhythm. The brass are playing different kinds of flourish in the background. The song is one of the fastest of South of Here. Not too surprisingly, it is also one of the shortest ones in here (three minutes).

11. Time Makes Fools of Us All

The shortest song of all in the 20224 album by Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats is its closing. The stomping rhythm and the rather speed nicely connects to the previous listen. South of Here finishes with rock music attitude.

 

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – South of Here – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – South of Here – My View

I had mixed thoughts when I reviewed the 2023 EP by the band. This time, I am more confident about the release. South of Here comes with a nice variety, good stories and nice work on the instrumental side. I definitely like it!

Favorite Song: Center of Me

 

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – South of Here – 2024 South of Here European Tour

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats is currently touring Europe. Here are the tour dates.

Some two weeks before the release of the corresponding album, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats start presenting the album al over Europe. Support act is William the Conqueror.

Sa 15.06.2024 Oslo (Norway) – Piknik i Parken
Su 16.06.2024 Gothenburg (Sweden) – Pustervik
Tu 18.06.2024 Odense (Denmark) – Musikhuset Posten
We 19.06.2024 Berlin (Germany) – Kesselhaus
Fr 21.06.2024 Landgraaf (Netherlands) – Pinkpop Festival
Sa 22.06.2024 London (United Kingdom) – Eventim Apollo
Tu 25.06.2024 Manchester – Albert Hall
We 26.06.2024 Glasgow – O2 Academy
Th 27.06.2024 York – Barbican
Sa 29.06.2024 Bristol – SWX
Su 30.06.2024 Wolverhampton – The Wulfrun at The Halls
We 03.07.2024 Cologne (Germany) – Gloria Theater
Th 04.07.2024 Wechter (Belgium) – Rock Werchter
Fr 05.07.2024 Arras (France) – Main Square Festival
Mo 08.07.2024 Munich (Germany) – Backstage Werk
Tu 09.07.2024 Bern (Switzerland) – Bierhuebeli
Fr 12.07.2024 Lisbon (Portugal) – NOS Alive
Sa 13.07.2024 Madrid (Spain) – Mad Cool Festival

 

 

St. Louis

Here are all postings related to the US-American city of St. Louis:

 

Concerts (All Around Cologne)

Here are all my Concerts postings related to the Greater Cologne area:

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