The Love by Derek Lee Goodreid

TUNEDLOUD - Album Review - Nov 17th 2021

DEREK LEE GOODREID – “THE LOVE” – GRITTY, GENUINE, AND, AT TIMES, VISCERALLY RAW!

“The Love” is a fantastic album. Each song folds into the next and one is left with a complete listening experience. Musically, it is all here, twangy and gritty guitars, dusty and driving rhythms, as well as incredibly raw vocals, all come together to form a stunning recording. Over the course of his career, Derek Lee Goodreid has always been able to create meticulously detailed worlds for his songs to inhabit. It seems as though dirty guitar notes, and swampy tones can develop into entire landscapes in his hands. If there has been a constant in Derek’s work, it’s been his ability to take the listener and drop them into a fully realized and completely believable musical environment that stretches across however many tracks any particular project runs for.

On “The Love”, Derek Lee Goodreid has again succeeded brilliantly, but this time reaches for, and exudes, a far greater confidence and maturity than we’ve ever heard on previous records. The man is totally on fire.

He opens the album with “The Shakes”, a surging track that builds around mounting electric guitars and a rolling drumbeat, which draws the listener into its curious tale. And as the last few notes fade away, you know exactly where you stand in relation to Derek’s music, and you’re already enraptured by the rugged, adrenaline-filled scenery.

The guitars jangle and twang on the chugging rock n’ roll rhythms of “Devil’s Due” and “Road of Bones”, before sliding into the abrasive “Needles & Sin”.

It’s strange to think that Derek Lee Goodreid sounds even better here than on previous albums, as his voice has always been one of the focal points of his songs, but this record just seems to bring out some inner reservoir of strength and vitality in the man. And all comes to a head on the railroad blues chant of “Sinner’s Prayer”.

With its spirited musical swells and ominous drums, the shuffling rhythm of “Sticking Around” carries the listener over its waves, and a melody so serpentine that it seems to be in constant motion.

The casual ease and nonchalance with which Derek Lee Goodreid creates songs within this bluesy, rock n’ roll context is a testament to his already considerable proficiency and abject love of this music. So when he hits the title track “The Love” in full flight, you almost take its authentic raw sound for granted.

Derek Lee Goodreid takes the echoing, border-town outlaw sound, and expands it until it seems to be on the verge of bursting on “Gone For Good” and “Big Bad Wolf”. All throughout this album, Derek shows us how he has managed to resuscitate and preserve styles that had largely been given up on.

And listening to the final track, “Howl at the Moon”, with its resonant keys and gravelly vocals, is another nostalgic, mind-wandering experience. Derek Lee Goodreid traffics in a sound that is gritty, genuine, and, at times, viscerally raw.

“The Love '' is Derek Lee Goodreid's way of showing the world that he isn’t just another decent modern-day blues-rock and Americana performer, but a creative, and surprisingly intelligent songwriter who thoroughly understands, and prefers the blues-rock and Americana based genres to any other.


STEREO STICKMAN - Album Review - Nov 8 2021

Introducing an explosive return for Perth’s Derek Lee Goodreid, the album The Love kicks into gear with the classic tumble and roar of nostalgic, fast-paced rock and roll that quickly lights up the room.

Storming through with fast riffs and gritty, warbling, high-octane vocals, the crash of live drums and the pedal-play of a stage show that naturally lures you in, The Shakes provides the perfect opening act for an album that forever keeps its audience engaged.

Far from predictable, the project keeps things blues-rock and energising but goes on to weave in cinematic details, compelling story-lines, and an impressive array of melodic anthems that linger after listening.

Consider the sultry pace and vocal depth of a rising and falling Devil’s Due, addictive in its film-ready presence and familiarity combined; not to mention the satisfying resolve to the title at the end of each line. Classic writing with a contemporary edge of in-the-moment expression from Goodreid.

Featuring a plethora of faultless guitar solos to break up the rhythm and stomp of elsewhere, The Love is a guitar-heavy album that urges you to pick up your own six-string and kick back with some riffs and freestyles.

From the yesteryear progression of Road of Bones through the absolute distortion and grunge-worthy groan of an overwhelmingly hypnotic Needles & Sin, the style is well-rooted yet free from the confines of expectation. The arena-ready fullness of the latter track strangely takes command of your headspace in a way that begs for you to play it more than once.

In stark contrast, the sudden Gospel acoustic stomp and melody of Sinner’s Prayer hits with soulful impact afterwards – arrangement working its magic.

Other highlights include the imagery and higher tones of Sticking Around – catchy as ever – the deeply contemplative, surf-rock colour and sway of the title-track The Love, and the unforgettably confident, fiercely passionate Big Bad Wolf.

The sudden intimacy and longing of Howl at the Moon also makes for a surprisingly loving, poetic and melodic closing track – another unforeseen instance of creative freedom that shines new light on the artist behind the music.

Emerging complete with a couple of unexpected skits of subtle yet repeat-worthy comedic value, The Love raises the roof consistently with Goodreid’s clear commitment to the genre, the concept, and the creative space.

A devoted and bold album of originals, with a distinct thread of identity throughout.

Derek Lee Goodreid is a soulful singer-songwriter. With a unique style that blends country, blues, rockabilly and his personal battle with PTSD and his dark humour reminiscent of Johnny Cash, his music is sure to ignite your emotions and get your feet moving.

derekleegoodreid.com
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