Home
Evangeline vs. The Machine
Evangeline vs. The Machine in Bloomington, MN
Current price: $11.99
Loading Inventory...
Size: CD
In 2021,
Eric Church
released the double-length set
Heart & Soul
in two installments a week apart. Both landed in the upper rungs of Top 200, and placed in the Top Three at country albums. 2025's
Evangeline vs. The Machine
stands in stark contrast; it contains just eight songs. Inspiration came from
Trombone Shorty
with an invitation to play his Jazz Fest aftershow Treme Threauxdown.
Church
performed "Cold One," a decade-old breakup song, and let
Shorty
and his band have their funky New Orleans way with it. That approach provided the inspirational referent for
. While
's producer
Jay Joyce
and road warrior band are ever present, they are supplemented by horns, orchestral strings, and even a choir -- the sessions included some 45 musicians.
The single "Hands of Time" is the set's opener, a rootsy country rocker that cuts across personal history, past and present, juxtaposed with the artists and songs the protagonist leans on to get him through the changes. The gospel chorus, Hammond B-3, and roaring guitar solo turns it into an anthem. The texturally expansive "Bleed On Paper" is a poignant gospel-blues with strings, brass, reeds, and an earthshaking choir. The song's lyrics rank with
's best, and that's saying plenty. "Johnny" is a new song, partially inspired by
Charlie Daniels
' "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" (although they sound nothing alike), meditates on the mass shooting at Nashville's Covenant School. It's a simple country-folk song that becomes vast and multidimensional with contrasting male and female choral voices in soaring call-and-response harmony; they buoy
's lead as sweeping strings, percussion, and brass frame him backed by acoustic and slide electric guitars. "Storm in Their Blood" choogles from soft Americana to swelling arena rock with tubas, trombones, and French Horns with a pointed lyric. Also included is "Darkest Hour," initially issued as a benefit single for North Carolina's victims of Hurricane Helene. Its determined melody and lyric reflect redemption. It will benefit "the people of North Carolina" permanently --
signed over its publishing. "Evangeline" is nearly majestic yet never leaves Americana behind. Warm brass meets strummed acoustic guitars, a swelling organ, and a drum kit as
sings in a near falsetto. His performance simultaneously portrays authority and vulnerability. He moves Southern mythology into the spiritually confused present while longing for simple, direct answers amid an ocean of strings, brass, and voices. "Rocket's White 34 Lincoln" is country funk à la
Jim Ford
, with choogling rhythms, electric piano, Stax-style horns, and a taut, shuffling snare. The set closer is a noisy cover of
Tom Waits
' "Clap Hands" from
Rain Dogs
.
performs it with a bluesman's authority as cellos, low brass, handclaps, and vocal choruses add drama and dark emotion. When the band jump in with distorted electric guitar, thrumming bass, and orchestral strings, it approaches the cinematic.
may be economical, but its songwriting, production craft, sound, and poetic, gritty, emotional honesty, ensure a qualitative abundance that stands with
's best work. ~ Thom Jurek
Eric Church
released the double-length set
Heart & Soul
in two installments a week apart. Both landed in the upper rungs of Top 200, and placed in the Top Three at country albums. 2025's
Evangeline vs. The Machine
stands in stark contrast; it contains just eight songs. Inspiration came from
Trombone Shorty
with an invitation to play his Jazz Fest aftershow Treme Threauxdown.
Church
performed "Cold One," a decade-old breakup song, and let
Shorty
and his band have their funky New Orleans way with it. That approach provided the inspirational referent for
. While
's producer
Jay Joyce
and road warrior band are ever present, they are supplemented by horns, orchestral strings, and even a choir -- the sessions included some 45 musicians.
The single "Hands of Time" is the set's opener, a rootsy country rocker that cuts across personal history, past and present, juxtaposed with the artists and songs the protagonist leans on to get him through the changes. The gospel chorus, Hammond B-3, and roaring guitar solo turns it into an anthem. The texturally expansive "Bleed On Paper" is a poignant gospel-blues with strings, brass, reeds, and an earthshaking choir. The song's lyrics rank with
's best, and that's saying plenty. "Johnny" is a new song, partially inspired by
Charlie Daniels
' "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" (although they sound nothing alike), meditates on the mass shooting at Nashville's Covenant School. It's a simple country-folk song that becomes vast and multidimensional with contrasting male and female choral voices in soaring call-and-response harmony; they buoy
's lead as sweeping strings, percussion, and brass frame him backed by acoustic and slide electric guitars. "Storm in Their Blood" choogles from soft Americana to swelling arena rock with tubas, trombones, and French Horns with a pointed lyric. Also included is "Darkest Hour," initially issued as a benefit single for North Carolina's victims of Hurricane Helene. Its determined melody and lyric reflect redemption. It will benefit "the people of North Carolina" permanently --
signed over its publishing. "Evangeline" is nearly majestic yet never leaves Americana behind. Warm brass meets strummed acoustic guitars, a swelling organ, and a drum kit as
sings in a near falsetto. His performance simultaneously portrays authority and vulnerability. He moves Southern mythology into the spiritually confused present while longing for simple, direct answers amid an ocean of strings, brass, and voices. "Rocket's White 34 Lincoln" is country funk à la
Jim Ford
, with choogling rhythms, electric piano, Stax-style horns, and a taut, shuffling snare. The set closer is a noisy cover of
Tom Waits
' "Clap Hands" from
Rain Dogs
.
performs it with a bluesman's authority as cellos, low brass, handclaps, and vocal choruses add drama and dark emotion. When the band jump in with distorted electric guitar, thrumming bass, and orchestral strings, it approaches the cinematic.
may be economical, but its songwriting, production craft, sound, and poetic, gritty, emotional honesty, ensure a qualitative abundance that stands with
's best work. ~ Thom Jurek
Shop Similar Products
