Nathaniel rateliff in memory of loss6/15/2023 ![]() At 11 he started to work to help out his family. Things weren't always easy for Rateliff and his family during that time. He began to listen to whatever he could get his hands on - something that he says continues to this day. When he was a teenager, while walking through a barn he discovered an abandoned "Led Zeppelin IV" cassette tape. "Everyone in my family played music so I kind of grew up doing it and there wasn't a whole lot else to do," says Rateliff. With devout churchgoer parents, Rateliff learned ways of singing passionately and with a gospel-like tone, something that is fully exemplified on his latest album "In Memory of Loss." ![]() He spent many days and nights of his childhood singing and learning instruments as a part of musically spirited family. Growing up in Bay, Mo., population 60, Rateliff didn't have much to do. Singer/songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff, a man who cares about writing honest, heartfelt songs, would fit into the latter category. Some come from the big cities and big ambitions while others come from small towns and often humble beginnings. All of his folk albums are masterfully written and while I am glad he’s getting more attention with the Night Sweats, I wish more people paid attention to that early stuff.For a vast majority of up-and-coming bands, getting a recording session with the ever-growing live session site Daytrotter is a gateway to the rest of the world with their music. One of the lines has him yelling with a desperation that gives me chills: “I could go backwards forever/ I could be boxed inside and living without/ well don’t blow my cover/ It’s taken years to make a beautiful shroud”. That’s not to say there aren’t songs on his early records in which he uses his powerful howl: one of the best songs on the record, Shroud, has him practically screaming the whole time. It’s quieter and more vulnerable, which partners quite well with his simple, yet beautiful instrumentation. Again, his voice shines through, but in a different way than it does with the Night Sweats. Turning to older material, Nathaniel’s second album, In Memory of Loss, is one of my favourite albums of all time. ![]() His howling combined with the musical prowess of the Night Sweats makes this an album you simply cannot ignore. He is able to bellow with such power, yet still manage to keep a kind of sweet gruffness in his voice. This man has a god-given talent, that much is clear. Probably the most obvious strength of the album is Nathaniel Rateliff’s absolutely killer vocals. The band formed in 2013, and released their self titled album earlier this year, which I have the pleasure of writing about today. Thankfully for all of us, he decided to try one more thing and switch from folk to an Otis Redding, Sam Cooke style doo-wop. Despite being one of the best singer-songwriters of his generation, Nathaniel was struggling to stay afloat. The thirty-six year old singer has been a musician for all of his adult life, and was until now performing primarily as a solo singer-songwriter. The success of the Night Sweats is great for the world in general, but it’s especially welcome for Nathaniel Rateliff himself. Just try and blast it without feeling those foot-tapping urges. The song is pure, emotional and overall electrifying. Their song S.O.B has over four million plays on spotify, and it absolutely deserves them. The group, fronted by the larger than life voice of Nathaniel Rateliff, has been reaching the top of the charts, performing on Jimmy Fallon and even receiving high praise from music legend Questlove. If you listen to some good radio, it’s likely that you’ve heard of Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.
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