Rob’s Album Of The Week: Nick Waterhouse

Soul music exemplifies what the heart of America is better than any other style. It’s emotive, honest and straight to the point while coming from the heart in unapologetic fashion. Hailing from Los Angeles, Nick Waterhouse brings his own take with hints of surf rock and vintage R&B. Imagine a cross between Brian Wilson and Wilson Pickett with a classy wardrobe and glasses and this guy is what you get. His self-titled album that came out on March 8 via Innovative Leisure is dynamic with each song socking it to the senses.

The new record has an incredible production quality that’s reminiscent of Motown’s heyday during the ’60s. Waterhouse worked with producer Paul Butler at Electro Vox in his hometown to capture it and the result is astounding. There are more hooks than a heavyweight boxing match and the harmonies are infectious. Mando Dorame’s sax roars while Roberta Freedman and Carol Hatchett are stunning as the backing vocalists. This album takes a timeless sound and gives it new life.

Old kinds of music like blues, soul and jazz can be hard to keep original these days. So many musicians have innovated so many things within each art form that it’s easy to see some young kid ripping them off these days. With that being said, what puts Waterhouse in the other group of torchbearers? I think it has to do with him embracing his own identity as an…