Seth Walker - Seth Walker (2006)

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A walk with Seth

North Carolina born, long time resident of Austin where this album was recorded, and now based in Nashville, 50 years old Seth Walker is a rather unique artist in the contemporary musical landscape : basically a bluesman, he's exploring the roots of modern American music. In this 2006 album, his third one, he extends his down-home southern gritty blues to "old" soul and R'n'B, western swing and country…

Rather than Americana, I would call it "Nostalgiana". And to make it clear that this personal conception of modern soul blues is his real musical identity, he simply titled the album "Seth Walker". The man is on a similar path to artists like Tom Waits and the likes, and even Bob Dylan whose last albums have a definite throw-back color.

The eleven songs on "Seth Walker" go from country blues ("Change My Way" underlined by a very Mississippi Hills pounding drum), Texas boogie,("Gone Before I Knew It") and old swing blues ("Miss Ann") to a large choice of soul numbers in a rather New Orleans style featuring piano, churchy organ and other keyboard effects ("Kick It Around", "Steady", "By The Water", the political song "2 ft. Left To The Ceiling", "I Know It's A Sin", "Sun Down", "So Far Gone"), and finally to the sorrowful Tom Wait's love ballad "Picture In A Frame".

Not so eclectic as it seems, "Seth Walker" has an indisputable nostalgic atmosphere. Vocally, with his rasping voice Walker is in perfect accordance with his songs. Instrumentally, the quartet band sounds with an appealing simplicity aimed at keeping Walker's voice up-front, even when the songs are enriched by outside guests (Kim Wilson on harmonica, Floyd Domino on piano, Mike Keller on guitar and Ephraim Owens on trumpet).

It's finely written, nicely arranged, neatly performed, recorded and mixed. The rest is a matter of personal taste. Some will love it, some like it less, and some others, not at all. But in any case you have to listen before deciding. ■

A selection of live versions  from the album

→ "Change My Way" : https://youtu.be/dEy6P_F1gy8
→ "Kick It Around" : https://youtu.be/iVnBsi1uETs
→ "Steady" : https://youtu.be/NHTsx8P6OLE
→ "By The Water" : https://youtu.be/awZPAcuASZg
→ "2 ft. Left to The Ceiling" : https://youtu.be/EbpIkJlLjLA
→ "So Far Gone" : https://youtu.be/EXdD_guWPIg
→ "Picture in a Frame" : https://youtu.be/U0LOKcv3qxY

Walker's site also features videos : https://sethwalker.com/videos/

Live shows

● Suwannee Springfest, Live Oak, Florida, 2015 : https://youtu.be/ltOhrv9kVuY

● Solo on Millennium Stage, February 2022 : https://youtu.be/yJKXyEScr_M

● Jammin at Hippie Jack's Americana Music Festival, Overton County (Tennessee), 2011 : https://youtu.be/e3VYeq2czK8

● At the Basement, Nashville (Tennessee), 2013 : https://youtu.be/mS-vypZ93KM