Artist: Leon Bridges
Album: Coming Home
In the music industry, it has become a bit taboo to say that an artist is ahead of his or her time, breaking ground with new sounds and ideas. With his debut album Coming Home, one could say that Leon Bridges is about 50 or more years behind his time.
With feel-good tunes like “Smooth Sailin’” and “Twistin’ & Groovin’” the listener gets transported to another time—a time of doo-wop, dancing the twist, and the pinnacle of soul music. Although Bridges essentially borrows everything from a time gone by, including his wardrobe and instruments, many of his original songs stem from very personal experiences. “Lisa Sawyer,” the song that sparked his signature vintage sound, recounts an intimate conversation with his mother, where his latest single, “River,” delves deep into his gospel roots to convey his innermost struggles.
When listening through the album from top to bottom, there is something oddly refreshing about hearing a young, new artist with a completely authentic vintage sound. At one time, “Coming Home” would have been a jukebox hit. In the modern world, the title track rose to fame as one of the Top 10 Most Viral Tracks on Spotify upon its release.