‘Love and Desperation’ is the 12th album by Southern California’s Rick Shea. An in-demand musician, he has worked with Dave Alvin, Katy Moffatt, and Wanda Jackson. His latest release began during sessions in the Spring of 2019 with an array of top musicians gathered in his home studio, only for the recording to be derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. Undeterred, the musicians completed the sessions remotely, and the result is testament to the talents of Shea and his colleagues.
Opening with a cover of Al Ferrier’s ‘Blues Stop Knockin’ At My Door’, the Cajun blues mix quickly grasps the attention of the listener and sets their toes tapping. Switching tempos, ‘Blues At Midnight’ delivers a more straight country blues theme. The brooding ‘(Down At The Bar At) Gypsy Sally’s’ takes its title from the works of Townes Van Zandt and contains a myriad of vivid characters based upon Shea’s experiences of playing bars and Honky Tonks in San Bernardino.
It’s hard to tie Shea down to one style or genre. With hints of Waylon Jennings and Tom Russell there are influences of Americana and Outlaw Country, but the blues run through his music like a thick vein and his Cajun roots are never far from the ear. His songwriting is top notch as are his considerable guitar playing skills. If there was a word to describe his work then it would be authentic.
Things slow down with the cautionary ‘Nashville Blues’, a song that scratches the surface of the Nashville music scene and hints a the darker side of the music industry. Reflecting on the tumultuous events of 2020, ‘The World’s Gone Crazy’ sounds like an old spiritual tune as it delivers its message of holding onto your loved ones until turmoil passes.
Rounding out the album is the enigmatic noir tale ‘Texas Lawyer’. Based in the Badlands near the Mexican border, the song takes influence from the works of author Elmore Leonard and explores the dubious methods used by the law to get results and how those methods ultimately result in an unplanned and unpleasant end.
Featuring music that is light, fun, and topped off with engaging lyrics, ‘Love and Desperation’ is a very enjoyable listen.