Roger Street Friedman is still a believer in the idea that music can change hearts and minds. Over the past decade, and during the course of four critically acclaimed albums, the modern Americana singer-songwriter has become a prominent voice in addressing issues both societal and personal in ways that recall the leading music lights of the ‘60s and ‘70s. On his newest album, Long Shadows (due out January 24th), Friedman trains his observant eye on recent and past events, some close to home and others half a world away, and in the tradition of other great storytellers, he focuses on raw emotions – love, anger, dismay, fear, isolation and ultimately, hope – in ways that make his points relatable to any listener.
He does so with an engaging and transcendent blend of rock ‘n’ roll, blues, country and folk that pays homage to his major inspirations – Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman and Neil Young. “They’re all incredible songwriters,” Friedman says. “Musically and lyrically, that’s the era I draw from.”
On his previous two albums, Rise and Love Hope Trust, Friedman handed production duties over to Grammy-winning producer, guitarist and songwriter Larry Campbell (known for his work with Bob Dylan, Levon Helm, Judy Collins and Willie Nelson, among others). Long Shadows marks the artist’s first time in the producer’s chair. “I learned so much from Larry lyrically, harmonically and melodically,” Friedman says. “The way he approaches arrangements is incredible. When it came time to flesh out the production on these tracks, I felt like I could give it a go myself – with co-production help from Justin Guip – because of all I learned from Larry.”
After nailing basic tracks, Friedman worked on overdubs with keyboardist Jeff Kazee and a trio of background singers: Cassondra James Kellam, Rasul A-Salaam, and the artist’s own daughter, Allie. Larry Campbell came in to play pedal steel, fiddle and electric guitar on a couple of cuts; all the other electric and acoustic guitar tracks were played by Friedman himself. “Larry was amazing, as usual, and it was also a lot of fun for me to stretch out by myself,” he says. “I’m pretty happy with the final result.”
Long Shadows could be called a high-water mark, but for Friedman, who put music aside for 25 years before resuming his creativity with a vengeance with his 2014 debut, The Waiting Sky, the self-produced album signals more breakthroughs are on the way. “When I came back to music, I didn’t know what to expect,” he says. “But the album got good reviews and got played on the radio, and then I started working with Larry, who was very encouraging. I like to think that wisdom comes with age. Over time I’ve become a more proficient songwriter, and I’ve really built this into something. I’m excited to continue to work, trust the process, and take this as far as I can.”
Today Glide is offering a premiere of the video for the standout track “Just How It Feels,” a spellbinding folk-rocker that finds Friedman channeling his inner Link Wray. With a catchy chorus, resonant lyrics, and twangy guitar, the song is the kind of driving tune that showcases Friedman’s ability to craft songs that hit home. With the subtle touch of an organ adding a hint of soul, the song is complemented by Friedman’s electrified guitar solo that ushers in the final stretch with an injection of energy. Friedman describes “Just How It Feels” as “an ode to the human condition. It’s a song for the voice in our heads that tells us we should be doing more, accomplishing more and being “better,” and the reality that we are only human, we often fall short, and there is only so much we can do in a day, a week, or a lifetime. I think we all know how that feels…”
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