On March 9th, 2018 Stax Records will release ‘Tearing at the Seams’, the highly anticipated new album from Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. ‘Tearing at the Seams’ follows the band’s critically and commercially lauded self-titled debut album (reviewed here), which has now sold over a million records worldwide and is which is certified GOLD in the U.S., Belgium, Switzerland Switzerland and the Netherlands, Platinum in Canada and Silver in the U.K.
The lead single, “You Worry Me” is premiering worldwide today—listen to the track here:
The undeniably anthemic track is the first taste of a record from a band who have been playing together, every night for the last two years. A fuller, more resolved sound than we’ve heard from the Night Sweats before, it is representative of a band perfectly in sync with each other, showcasing a finesse and musical maturity found throughout the album. This is perhaps most evident on the timeless beauty of ‘Babe I Know’, managing to be both heartbreakingly sad whilst also gloriously uplifting.
The group dynamic is pivotal to the Night Sweats; initial writing and recording sessions for Tearing at the Seams took place in Rodeo, New Mexico where Rateliff & the band re-established their writing and recording process
“For the first record, I demo’ed everything up and created most of the parts,” says Rateliff. “This time, I felt like we’ve all spent so much time on the road that we should all go off somewhere together. We should all have that experience together.”
The band finished recording with producer Richard Swift—who has helmed records for the Shins and Foxygen in addition to The Night Sweats’ debut—collectively creating a group of songs that capture the band’s emotion and intensity.
Rateliff reflects, “I want—and I need—everybody to feel like they’re a part of this band. I want them to feel like they’re contributing artistically and emotionally to the experience of writing and creating this music. We’ve all had to make sacrifices to be in The Night Sweats and I want them all to know that it’s worth something.”
This group mentality and approach to the record is no more evident than on the glorious opener ‘Shoe Boot’ a five minute, funk-infused jam and ‘Intro’ (track 7), the raucous jam used to open the band’s sets over the last few years.
The album closer and title track, however, is perhaps the most moving, lyrically tackling the huge challenges and sacrifices faced along the way by a band who are constantly away from home on the road. Rateliff’s inimitably expressive, world-weary vocal leads the track as it builds into an emotional yet defiant close – the energy and passion palpable.
‘Tearing At The Seams’ is a deeply personal yet always accessible record for any situation. It is the sound of an artist operating at his absolute best, taking life’s challenges, upsets and difficulties and turning them into a truly timeless, uplifting album.
The album is available for pre-order today. In addition to the 12-track standard edition, Tearing at the Seams will be available in a 14-track deluxe edition that features two bonus tracks and exclusive photos. Vinyl editions include the (2-disc, 180gram) 12-track standard edition and the (2-disc, 180gram) 14-track deluxe edition, which features an exclusive photo book and special 7” single.
NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS PLAY:
MARCH 2018
21st MUNICH, Muffathalle
22nd ZURICH, X-Tra
24th COLOGNE, E-Werk
25th FRANKFURT, Batschkapp
27th BERLIN, Astra
29th OSLO, Parkteatret
30th STOCKHOLM, Berns
31st COPENHAGEN, Vega
APRIL 2018
3rd HAMBURG, Grosse Freiheit
4th AMSTERDAM, Paradiso
5th AMSTERDAM, Paradiso
7th ANTWERP, deRoma
9th PARIS, Trianon
11th LONDON, Shepherds Bush Empire
12th LONDON, Shepherds Bush Empire
13th LONDON, Shepherds Bush Empire
14th MANCHESTER, Albert Hall
18th DUBLIN, Olympia Theatre
19th DUBLIN, Olympia Theatre
20th BELFAST, Ulster Hall
21st EDINBURGH, Usher Hall
http://www.nathanielrateliff.com/
Photo Credit: Brantley Gutierrez