JD McPherson Undivided Heart & Soul LP (Red & Yellow Marbled Vinyl)

• DESCRIPTION

2017's Undivided Heart & Soul, produced by Dan Molad (Lucius) and JD McPherson, and developed largely in the studio (that studio being the historic RCA Studio B in Nashville), carries a sense of immediacy and irreverence.

"In writing this record, I threw several handfuls of caution to the wind," said McPherson of his third album. "Lyrically, I was allowing myself to be exposed in a way I never have before. Concurrently, maybe as some sort of a self defense mechanism, the guitars got fuzzier and louder. The first day at RCA was like being in church... by the second day, it was a high school band's rehearsal space.

"Most folks know us for our take on vintage R&B and early Rock N' Roll. The past year, I've been digging so much into the heavier, brasher sounds of early Rock N' Roll... from bands like The Sonics, Link Wray, and into some early British Rock such as The Creation... these influences feature heavily in these songs. The tunes that showed up weren't exactly always in familiar territory, and... we greeted them as welcome strangers. They have a lot of heart... and that's what Rock N' Roll should always have."

McPherson continues to pull all of his varied stylistic influences together into his own vibrantly coherent brand of visceral, emotive rock that grabs you by the collar and demands your passion.

The backing band is tighter than Trump's grasp on his tax returns, Dan Molad's co-production is crisp and McPherson is writing and singing with a crackling confidence that never wavers over the disc's 41 minutes.

John Lee Hooker meets the Pixies on 'Bloodhound Rock' and opening chug 'Desperate Love,' with the payoff resembling an alternate universe Top 10 from 1962 as informed by musique concrète as by Del Shannon and Phil Spector.