Known mainly as the frontman for the rock band NEEDTOBREATHE, with his sophomore solo outing Bear Rinehart (going under the moniker Wilder Woods) digs into much broader musical influences and styles than he’s usually associated with and as a result comes out with a much more satisfying mix of Roots Rock, Soul and Gospel.
FEVER/SKY follows up 2019’s self-titled debut and builds on his tendency to write introspectively and earnestly, while not shying away from big hooks. The album opens with “Maestro (Tears Don’t Lie),” a song that brings to mind everyone from Otis Redding to Nathaniel Rateliff with its Gospel-tinged R&B. “Patience,” punctuated with church organ and a brilliant backing choir, sounds like a confession and “Be Yourself,” is almost subdued musically comparted to the other songs here, but includes some of Rinehart’s most personal lyrics.
Written while his band was forced off the road because of the pandemic, back home with his family in Nashville, the record is full of reflection. “This isn’t the kind of journey where I’m worried about the places I’m headed or the places I’ve left; it’s a journey where I’m just happy to be in the car, driving forward,” he says. Musically, Rinehart slathers the record in electric guitar, organ and even adds Memphis horns throughout to make for a pretty inspiring sound.
However, the second half of the record, starting with “Wish It Was Mine” and “Get It Back” slows down a lot of the momentum and fun rowdiness that has been building up, making for a mellower vibe that never really gets the record back on track.
Rinehart’s children serve as inspiration throughout the record on songs like album closer “Make Your Own Mistakes,” one of the few mellower moments on the record that work well. He sings about finding your own way in life and discovering independence. It sounds unlike any other song on the record but still manages to work in with this collection. He even dedicates this record to his youngest child, while his moniker is an ode to his two older sons, Wilder and Woods. Ultimately a little uneven taken as a whole, but there are some great moments to be found on FEVER/SKY.
