James Coates - One Last Ride (2020)

Coates flexes his range on One Last Ride from folk and rock to soul, with mostly new (as far as I know) material, save for a filled out version of the previously released –and devastating– “Cigarette Boulevard”. Coates own affinity for, and absorption of, classic rock –from John Lennon, to Brian Wilson, to Phil Spector, can be heard immediately on the opening track, as he brings a full wall of sound via symphony orchestra to “The American”, a classic Coates combination of complex characters that embody the everyman.

“This Town” has been floating around the internet in versions for some time, and it’s an obvious single, with an enticing hook. It’s also a song that rewards repeated listeners with layers of sonic depth.

Stick around for the soul-stirrer “Don’t Leave Me Standing…” a doo/wop and soul love song that shows just how far Coates can travel inside a studio, you’re going to love the way he can sing us all back home.