BMG [Release date 7.03.25]

‘Heart Of The Eternal’ is an ebullient roots-rock album with a philosophical core.

It’s a musically diverse album which as the title suggests aims high to realise an enduring musical appeal across different genres.

Given his heartfelt songwriting, it’s an approach A.J. Croce has attempted before, but these 11 songs take him a step further, based on a willingness to immerse himself in the moment on whatever the instrument or genre.

He’s a versatile musician who always serves the song, while still managing to pay attention to the coherent flow of the album as a whole.

This is very much an old school crafted album with 11 short meaningful songs coming in at less than 40 minutes, but there are enough stand-alone tracks to satisfy the download generation.

He is equally good on piano and guitar which gives the songs different sonic qualities. And there’s a lovely balance between the retro and more contemporary, all shot through with unflinching emotion, catchy rhythmic work and frequent reflective lyrics.

There’s funk, soul, old school R&B, fuzzed out rock and blues and salient New Orleans influences, spread over deep grooves with imaginative arrangements.

‘Heart Of The Eternal’ is also a very a personal solo album which effortlessly nails his own inherent rootsy style.

It’s a song-led album given its heft by Croce’s effortless musicianship, the band’s spirited interplay and producer Shooter Jennings’ organic approach which lets the music breathe.

Jennings deftly creates mini walls of sound for musical emphasis, as on the Mambo intro, New Orleans feel and Django Reinhardt influenced ‘Complications of Love’, complete with sonorous violin and acoustic guitar.

A.J. Croce wisely records with his road band who make everything sound like an extension of what they do on stage.

He opens with the psychedelic fuzzy funk of ‘I Got A Feeling’, a celebratory keyboard-led groove and single which sets a standard for the album as a whole.

It’s short, sharp and to the point, and leaves a sudden void which involuntarily propels the listener into ‘On A Roll’, a laid back autobiographical outing with vibrant piano accompaniment.

‘Reunion’ is thematically a sister track to the closing ‘The Finest Line’.

It’s a co-write with John Oates which delicately ponders the afterlife and has led to two separate versions. Croce’s bluesy waltz-time arrangement makes the number all his own, complete with some Randy Newman style phrasing, helmed by big gospel vocals.

The catchy, but heavier ‘Hey Margarita’ is more of a tougher riff-driven piece which could be an early 70s rock-blues track, with a reach back to Chicago blues.

Then there the meditative ‘The Best You Can’, a song about resilience, full of pedal steel and gospel bv’s, as he stretches his vocal into Joe Cocker ballad territory.

Each repeated play of this album brings fresh reward, though it only took one play for me to fixate on the wonderful ‘All I Want.’

Some big opening piano chords lead to his best vocal on very poignant song about loss. There’s also a lovely and unexpected ethereal feel at 2.24, bolstered by strings which underpin some dark lyrics: “I’ve been changed now I’m no longer playing the game, everyday now I won’t ever be the same.”

Croce also dips into the warm sounding acoustic ‘Turn Around’, on an intricately woven piece with an early hook and a vague Paul Simon feel.

And when it comes to musical influences he lays his cards on the table on the rhythmically strong, Gary Nicholson co-penned ‘So Much Fun’.

A New Orleans style piece with gospel bv’s and a palpable Dr. John feel, his vocal is actually closer to Randy Newman.

And having taken us on hybrid musical journey, he returns to the themes of loss, grief and the afterlife on the very moving ‘The Finest Line’

The piano led-piece is anchored by a tic-toc cymbal, a repeated portentous bell and a defining ‘call and response’ duet with country star Margot Price

‘The Finest Line’ provides the album with a deeply felt cathartic release and acts a coda in reuniting us with one of several reflective and deeply felt narratives, which gives a musically excellent album real substance ****

Review by Pete Feenstra

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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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 2 March 2025.

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 on 4 March 2025

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Power Plays w/c 24 March 2025

HARRI LARKIN Too Close To The Sun (Robot Distro)
SANDNESS Not Your Dog (Rockshots Records)
DOCTOR BLACK Drag Me Down (indie)
COHEED AND CAMBRIA Goodbye Sunshine (Virgin Music Group)
LEONI JANE KENNEDY Closer (indie)
SMALL TOWN POLITICS Red Lights (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 24 March 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

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