Artist: Wilder Woods
Song: “Maestro (Tears Don’t Lie)”
Album: Fever/Sky (March 24, 2023)
Label: Dualtone Records
Genre: Rock, Soul
Better known as the frontman for alt pop rock band NEEDTOBREATHE, Bear Rinehart uses his side project Wilder Woods (named after two of his sons) as a way to experiment with different sounds. After releasing his debut album in 2019, Rinehart spent the pandemic writing the follow-up album, and if the first single “Maestro (Tears Don’t Lie)” is any indication, it’s a record to get excited for.
Built around a classic-sounding R&B rhythm, Rinehart’s vocals have never sounded so soulful. Organs and Stax guitar lines add a shimmy to the arrangement, while the choral girl back-up singers give it a wonderful throwback vibe. In the song, Rinehart tries to comfort a lover (“I can tell that you’re trying, I can tell that you’re scared…but I’m still here”), but uses some more powerful imagery (“There’s blood in the water. There’s a river running down your face”) to add to the song’s lyrical power.
Be sure to check out this track in our Check This 2023 Playlist on Spotify or Apple Music!
The Indy Review 