Arliss Nancy - Wild American Runners

Arliss Nancy put the American in American Rock Music.

Taking cues from Springsteen, The Hold Steady and a little Gaslight Anthem, Arliss Nancy put the American in American Rock Music. Poetic, blue-collared and soaked with the bourbon-tongued acidity of heartfelt songs written by the downtrodden, Wild American Runners is a terrific and absorbing journey through the mind of songwriter Cory Call.

6 years into their Arliss Nancy careers, Wild American Runners features songs that bounce and soar to an amalgamation to Southern flavored guitar riffs, piano accompaniments, sturdy percussion work and Call's gruff vocals. “Nathaniel” is a terrific keys-strewn number; mid tempo, aching and beautifully, while “Hold It Together” is a good sampling of the band's Gaslight Anthem-lean. In “Bloodletter”, the band carve an anthemic dusty highway number that goes in unison to proceeding melancholy grace of the title track. The latter being Call at his most Springsteen.

Much of the album is perfect for long night drives or times where one needs to be in their own mind. There is as much heartfelt in here as there is poise and honesty. While the style isn't too distinguishable from their influences, the substance here is as profound as the bands and musicians they draw lineage from.

You may wait for the entire album to find that song that defines the ethos and sound of the band in a perfect way, but in the album closer “Vonnegut”, you find just that. It's a beautiful song, and ends Wild American Runners on a great note. You may not have heard of Arliss Nancy yet but don't wait too long before you do. This is American rock music at its best.

(Black Numbers)