Rick Astley – “Are We There Yet?”
It’s been 36 years since his debut album and five years since his last, but Rick Astley is back with a new collection of self-penned, self-produced tunes, and he is on a mission to prove that he is never gonna stop giving up what he loves!
Following his comeback in 2016 with “50”, Rick served up a superb collection with his 2018 album “Beautiful Life” along with the catchy title track and outstanding tunes such as “Try”. Now with two lead singles to wet our appetites with already, Rick is ready to launch “Are We There Yet?”. And this is how it sounds…
Dippin’ My Feet
Rick goes Rodeo for the lead single and it actually works. Shades of Johnny Cash and Brit-Pop all mixed in here. Click here for the full feature on this song. ⭐⭐⭐
Letting Go
Rick keeps up his Country odyssey with this guitar-down tempo number where he really chills out to the max! ⭐⭐⭐
Golden Hour
Gritty, honest Rick goes Gospel for this heartfelt number as we go deeper into Nashville territory without the plane ticket. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Never Gonna Stop
Gospel-tinged, powerful, gritty, musically cut-back number, Ricks most audacious tune since “Cry For Help”. Click here for the full feature on this song. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Close (Your Shoes)
Dark brouding beats greet this tune as the sounds of the Nevada outback can be heard and experienced with this gorgeous love song. ⭐⭐⭐
High Enough
This track has a film-like quality to it. Rick does Bond…? Superb laid-back track. Rick reaches high enough at every turn. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Forever And More
60’s style tune, think Duffy/early Tina, Rick strays into R&B territory. Catchy chorus. 60’s chic and panache. ⭐⭐⭐
Driving Me Crazy
Rick takes it down a notch once more for a guitar-backed ballad. Ode to his lady that she still drives him crazy. ⭐⭐⭐
Maria Love
More 60’s sounds as we are very much in the R&B groove. Superb percussion accompanies this lively track. ⭐⭐⭐
Take Me Back To Your Place
Oooh great opening! Another “High Enough”, cinematic sounding tune. Sounds of piano, New Orleans bar music. Rick explores new notes for his superb vocal. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Waterfall
Rick strips it back again with little instrumentation. More bar music. Gospel choir. Rick knows how you’re feeling on a waterfall. ⭐⭐⭐
Blue Sky
Rick wraps things up with a piano ballad as he heads into the blue sky. Dark and menacing tones and vocals. Rick is sublime here. Few words but enough said. ⭐⭐⭐
Well, Rick delivers something very different to what has gone before. More mellow, mature and at ease with what he writes and performs. This is a great album full of heartfelt words and well thoughtout production and execution. Rick takes his music and voice to greater depths and excels on all levels, proving he is the man of the moment still.
The cinema-esque songs really hold this thing together with great potential for singles to come while tracks like “Never Gonna Stop” and “Take Me Back To Your Place” are just outstanding in quality and scope to keep Rick’s bar high to be equalled or beaten next time. Wonder if he will end up playing in those Mid-West or ‘down South’ bars? This album should play well to an American audience. Rick’s journey has been an eventful one and it’s not over yet. He’s only just setting out on this roadtrip.
For all things Rick, check out the Astley Archive here
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