REVIEW: Tennessee Backwater — In God We Trust (SINGLE)
Tennessee Backwater’s new single “In God We Trust” continues building on a budding musical legacy that blossomed from an initial trio. The Elder brothers, Hunter and Bo, bring their distinct regional flavor to the playing and original material while early cohort Blake Daniels complemented them from a musical and uniquely personal perspective. They’ve added key members since then; the contributions of Christian Trice’s guitar, Darrien Taylor’s keyboard playing, and the rhythm section of Brandon Springfield’s bass and Jaylon Flagg’s drums round Tennessee Backwater out into a diverse and multi-pronged outfit.
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“In God We Trust” highlights how sinewy and artful they’ve become. Pulling that off while retaining a singular and one-of-a-kind voice is another highlight. “In God We Trust” has an unified presentation. This means that it puts a consistent foot forward from the outset, both compositionally and in performance. Such an approach makes for a more convincing outing. Balancing fidelity to your adopted sound and pushing through with as much of an authentic voice as possible demands immense skill. Tennessee Backwater fits the bill with seeming off-hand ease.
They have a confident yet relaxed command of the material. Listeners will trust the song’s trajectory from the first note onward. It has obvious anthemic tendencies that Tennessee Backwater wisely never redlines into overdrive and that imbues the recording with a steady forward motion that never threatens to overwhelm listeners.
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The song’s lyrical content is unambiguous. The truth is that wherever you fall on the political spectrum, “In God We Trust” has an essentially undisputable point of view. Arguing against ethics and honesty in national leadership, on its face, isn’t something worth opposing. Escalating the song from its relatively humble beginnings into a full-fledged rock stomper without rushing the process is another hallmark of Tennessee Backwater’s growing songwriting acumen.
It has an accompanying video that will net them new fans. The earnest and unabashed way the video for “In God We Trust” portrays the participating band members has surprising intimacy. You’d be hard-pressed to not feel a little urged to action. “In God We Trust” doesn’t carry a message that the band’s wearing like a popular hat, angling for attention; the promotional clip for “In God We Trust” underlines that they mean every word.
The gravity and personal testimony of “In God We Trust” ultimately never undercuts the entertainment value of the song. Tennessee Backwater’s arrangement and performance are enough to inspire a favorable physical response; the collected musicians flex genuine rock muscle. It’s an early bid for widespread attention for this young cadre of budding musicians,, singers, and songwriters.
They’re obviously driven by equal parts passion and skill. Add in a desirable dose of being willing to place their necks across potential chopping blocks and you’ve got music that checks off important aesthetic boxes. Most importantly, however, it’s relevant. Tennessee Backwater’s “In God We Trust” has enduring value in a nation increasingly torn and polarized. Take from its sentiments what you will. However, there is no question that it is a deeply felt musical work.
Colin Jordan
