St. Louis-based band Nick Gusman and the Coyotes craft a stylish rock and alt-country immersion throughout their new album, Lifting Heavy Things. Recorded live at Native Sound Recordings, the production’s evident emotion and musicianship is consistently alluring. The act is praised for their live performances, and their magnetic, heartfelt spontaneity finds resonance in studio form as well via Lifting Heavy Things.
Opening track “Tokyo Hotel” showcases the band’s knack for scenic narratives and relatable inspirations. “She lived at the Tokyo Hotel,” melodic vocals enamor alongside stirring strings and twangy guitars, capturing a real encounter at a former Chicago establishment. “She looked just like a saint, preaching out of the Tokyo Hotel,” a beautiful duet arises into a yearning “dreaming of her still,” melancholy; the track envelops in its narration of a striking meeting and the atmosphere surrounding it.
Lifting Heavy Things continues to charm throughout, rousing in its range of exhilarating rises — from the organ-laden “Sound of a Broken Heart” outpouring to the title track’s rollicking, country-infused fervency. Frontman and songwriter Nick Gusman describes the title track as “kind of about getting humbled and kinda realizing to appreciate things more. It reminds you to sing while you work.” Whether drawing inspiration from late night meetings at dim hotels or conversations at 7-Eleven, as is the case with that title track, Nick Gusman and the Coyotes excel with a riveting array of songwriting on Lifting Heavy Things.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
