Future Soul is the latest album from sophisticated funky blues legends Tedeschi Trucks Band, who are of course the vehicle for Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi alongside Mike Mattison, Gabe Dixon, Brandon Boone, Tyler Falcon Greenwell, Isaac Eady, Mark Rivers, Alecia Chakour, Kebbi Williams, Emmanuel Echem and Elizabeth Lea.
The album was Produced by Mike Elizondo and Tedeschi Trucks at Swamp Raga recording in Jacksonville Florida and Phantom Studios in Gallantin Tennessee. This album has a superhero theme to the artwork and song titles that suggest, it is going to be far more about the issues consuming the world in the 2020's than it is, unless you are looking for the super heroes of heartbreak.
The album opens with the deeply funky Crazy Cryin' isn't about the current horror show we see all about us, but about some deep heartbreak that Susan is suffering from, the brass section slinks across the speakers, while the beatings are discussed, along with the woman that stole this paragon of a man from her. All her sorrows are wrapped up in one of Derek's suitably explosive guitar solos.
I Got You like you are her possession; she won't let you go, enjoy the wine and song with her, gentle backing vocals and supremely well put together blues rock, with some great musical stops that emphasize the lyrics, building towards the brass and choral pinnacle.
Who Am I is slower, soul-searching, wondering who she is, if she doesn't have you in her arms, almost like she can't be complete without a partner! The sorrow of her pain at the very thought of being a singleton has a gentle gospel tinge to it.
Hero is a bit of a soul stirrer, that has Susan claiming she's not your hero, so obviously won't be tackling all the modern ills that need rectifying, but know you understand where she's at, she sounds re-born, this builds and builds before a slower breakdown and some musical magic over the outro.
What In The World shockingly in 2026 isn't an angry screed against bullying governments, or societal collapse, spree shootings, kids addicted to social media or anything else that might come with a What In the World exclamation, no this is another love gone wrong, slow soul song, that sounds every bit as great as you would expect from Tedeschi Trucks, only the title seems out of place in these times.
Future Soul is whiskey soaked pleas that everyone's Future has soul in it, this sounds like the Bellrays with a great stomping funk edge, quite why she should feel ashamed to say she hopes your Future got Soul In it is beyond me, it's not like she is wishing and hoping your future, has a peaceful world, where we all trade fairly or anything controversial like that.
Under The Knife has Derek on lead vocals, singing about the kids on the corner smoking weed, tsk tsk, even if he feels stoned just walking on by them, hazy memories managed to shock him to his soul, like he has smoked so much stuff, he didn't notice all those terrible forest fires, hurricanes and other things troubling the US of A.
Be Kind is an old school finger wagging song to her man, who is stepping out on her, she just wants you to Be Kind to her, don't rub it in her face and leave her standing there, go on show her the love she needs, she sounds like someone should lend her a Sandra Phillips album to help her get her head straight, while the brass section really light things up.
Devil Be Gone should be far angrier, no matter what kind of blind rage she is in, this doesn't want to tear down regimes or start revolutions, she wants to get to some deep gospel, praying for her own soul, while trying to resist her own personal demons, she ain't listening to the devil no more, over a cool walking blues, trading licks and taking it down.
Shout Out go on a protest, let us know what you are all about, or prove you are still her friend, despite what went down, all the cheating and duplicity, why don't you Shout Out to her about your feelings, while marvelling at the cool jazz horn backing trying to get you back on her team once more.
Ride On is a classic country blues heartbreaker to close the album, they are just along for the ride, lovers not fighters, perfect to sway along to, while raising one more glass to the road and carrying on that never ending Ride, go on Ride on with Tedeschi Trucks they keep making high quality albums.
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