Robert Randolph
got his start as a performer playing his pedal steel guitar at a House of God Church he attended in Orange, New Jersey. In 2000, he was heard by a manager who was convinced there was a larger audience for
Randolph
's fiery music, and in 2001, he formed his own band and hit the road, sharing stages with jam bands, blues acts, country stars, roots rockers, and various combinations thereof. He is hardly the only artist who jumped from sacred to secular music, and the push and pull of rowdy Saturday-night partying and pious Sunday-morning repentance provides the subtext for a huge amount of American music, especially that from the Deep South. For
's first solo album, recorded while taking a break from his long-running
Family Band
, he found himself working with several musicians whose parents were pastors, just like his, and 2025's
Preacher Kids
has fun with the perceptions versus the reality of the lives of folks who grew up in the church. "Choir Women" celebrates the wild side of the women who wail the gospel at Sunday service, "Sinner" ponders the judgmental side of peers and fellow congregants who have much to say when someone pursues success outside the church, and "Roosevelt Pool" imagines some hearty partying after Sunday meetings let out. While this adds an amusing thematic spin to these songs, it also makes sense for
, whose music has always had a gospel undertow no matter how much he cranks up his amps and lets his instrument scream and growl. At the same time,
finds him aiming for a grittier approach and a tougher attack, with tough rock & roll and heavy electric blues informing the music with clarity and swagger.
Shooter Jennings
produced
, which might sound like an odd choice, but he gets an admirably powerful sound from
and his studio crew, as well as coaxing some great vocal performances from
and guest vocalists
Margo Price
and
Judith Hill
, as well as letting bassist
Jay White
and drummer
Willie Barthel
put down some potent grooves. On
,
gives himself the chance to cut loose and get gone for a change, and it sounds and feels really good. Just don't tattle on him to his folks. ~ Mark Deming