Album review: EARLY JAMES – Medium Raw
Easy Eye Sound [Release date 10.01.2025]
‘Medium Raw’ is the third album from Early James and one, as the album title suggests, recorded with a sound that thrives on a lived-in, real-world ambiance. Dan Auerbach (the Black Keys) once again produced the album and it was recorded in a rundown house, with each musician often in a separate room.
Dan stated that – “I wanted to try to find that power of when I first saw him, when it was just him and his guitar…the comforts and luxuries of the studio, where you’re able to hear everything and make adjustments and changes, wasn’t right for this project.”
Joining Early James on the album are long-time bassist Adrian Marmolejo, drummer Jeff Clemens and percussionist Sam Bacco.
The album also includes songs co-written with Auerbach and top Nashville songwriter Pat McLaughlin (‘I Got This Problem’); Sheryl Crow’s frequent collaborator Jeff Trott (‘Nothing Surprises Me Anymore’) and roots singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim (‘Go Down Swinging’).
Early James and Dan Auerbach really have succeeded in capturing a basic, bare bones sound and songs like ‘Tinfoil Hat’ sound, quite frankly, amazing. The guitar and drums in particular really stand out.
‘Gravy Train’ sounds like a long lost 1950′s blues recording, whilst ‘I Got This Problem’ has a cheeky little rock n roll swing about it.
Early James has a unique vocal style, not instant on the listener’s ears by any stretch of the imagination, but one that the listener enjoys on each repeated listen.
Not the easiest listen perhaps, however, worth repeated listens and an album that really lends itself to an immersive headphones listen. ***1/2
Review by Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 19 January
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections